ARMENIAN FOOTBALL DELEGATION OFF TO DUSSELDORF FOR UEFA CONFERENCE

Armenpress

YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS: A delegation of Armenian Football
Federation (AFF), headed by its president Ruben Hayrapetian, has left
today for Germany’s Dusseldorf, the venue of an UEFA conference that
will meet on Friday to elect its next president.

The two candidates are former French international Michel Platini
and the incumbent Lennart Johansson.

Johansson had indicated some time ago that he would not stand for
re-election but when it became apparent that Platini might be unopposed
the Swede changed his mind. Back in 2002 Platini had opted to stand
aside when Johansson announced his intention to run for a fourth term.

Michel Platini (51) is generally considered to be an ally of
FIFA President Sepp Blatter. From 1998 to 2002 Platini acted as a
Blatter’s personal adviser and has also sat on both the UEFA and
FIFA executive committees. He is also vice president of the French
Football Federation.

Last year Platini paid a brief visit to Armenia.

Johansson, a 77-year-old Swede, has held the post since 1990 and is
bidding for his fifth term.

The UEFA conference is also to decide the venue and the date of
Armenia versus Azerbaijan EURO-2008 qualifying matches. The Armenian
Federation spoke in favor of holding both games in Baku and Yerevan
ensuring full safety for Azeri players in Yerevan, but the proposal
was rejected by Azerbaijan.