UEFA TO PASS DECISION ON PLACE OF AZERBAIJAN-ARMENIA MATCH APR 12

Today, Azerbaijan
March 12 2007

AFFA Secretary-General Fuad Asadov’s interview with the APA-Sport
agency.

What issues will be discussed at the meeting of AFFA Executive
Committee to be held on March 16?

The meeting is aimed to confirm the agenda of the next AFFA conference
to be held on April 26. As usual, the conference will deal with the
results of the previous year. Thus, reports of auditor organizations
will be heard and auditor organization will be selected and confirmed
for next year, the budget will be approved. Some other issues may
occur during the conference. But main issues are those discussed in
previous conference which meets AFFA Regulations.

Youth and Sports minister Azad Rahimov said legionary limitation will
be extended in the conference. Has AFFA received any official appeal
on the issue?

According to the AFFA Regulations, we have sent official notifications
to all federation members three months before the conference. The
proposals are to be submitted by 45 days before the conference. No
club has made proposals on extension of legionary limitation so far.

UEFA president Michel Platini stated lately that Azerbaijan-Armenia
matches will probably take place in neutral fields…

Platini said the issue will be considered in near future. April
12 is a near future. AFFA has received a letter on the issue. They
invited us to the commission meeting to be held on April 12. After
a preliminary decision on the place of Azerbaijan-Armenia match is
approved that day, it will be submitted to the agenda of the UEFA
Executive Committee meeting to be held a week later in Cardiff,
Wales. If the final decision will be passed the matches to take place
in neutral fields, we will suggest Ukraine, Switzerland and Austria.

The exact place of the match will depend on the talks with Armenian
party.

It is stated that the matches will probably take place in Donetsk,
Ukraine…

Ukraine is among three suggested countries. If Armenia agrees, the
matches may be organized here. But for now, I cannot say what country
it will take place.

By the way, when are FIFA president Zepp Blatter and UEFA president
Michel Platini visiting Baku?

The date hasn’t been set yet, because it is unknown when Platini will
come. During his visit to Georgia lately, he stated he will also visit
Azerbaijan. He could go anywhere anytime before was elected UEFA
president. But he is not very busy. Platini was expected to visit
Azerbaijan the following day of UEFA Executive Committee meeting
on April 18. At that time Blatter wil make a visit to Pakistan. He
was also expected to come to Baku from there. But later on, it was
clear that UEFA Executive Committee will assemble on April 19, not
April 18. That’s why we don’t know the exact date of FIFA and UEFA
presidents’ visit to Baku.

Will they participate in only the opening ceremony of AFFA’s new
office?

Of course, they will not leave the country after participating in
an-hour ceremony. Blatter and Platini will have visit program. If
they come, they will stay for two days in Baku. They are expected
to view mini football fields constructed with financial support of
international organizations. They will probably meet with President
Ilham Aliyev, Youth and Sports minister Azad Rahimov.

Are the presidents expected to visit mini football fields in the
regions?

It depends on them.

When are Azerbaijani U-21 team’s matches in European championship
qualifying scheduled?

The draw of the group took place March 13. The calendar is to be
confirmed a month later fater the draw. UEFA will soon present us
the schedule of team’s first qualifying group.

Futsal Federation president Agarza Rzayev stated at the AFFA Executive
Committee meeting that Baba Asgerov will be appointed head coach of
the futsal team…

Agarza Rzayev has nothing to do with the appointment of head coach
of the team. He can make proposal as a federation president. For
the time being the Baba Asgerov is entrusted the team. We will take
into consideration the opinions of Futsal Federation leadership, team
figures and AFFA Futsal Committee when we appoint the head coach. But
I cannot say when the concrete decision will be made.

Has any official protest letter been sent to the UEFA on the unfairness
that Azerbaijani team faced during the European championship qualifying
in Netherlands?

We are preparing the letter right now. We have added the video records
and articles published in Dutch press outlet to the letter.

We are going to send the letter to the UEFA on March 12. But it
is impossible to play the match again. The UEFA may fine Serbian
Football Federation.

Have you paid the fine imposed on the AFFA after Sergey Sokolov failed
a doping test?

We haven’t received an answer to the third letter sent to the UEFA
asking to explain the reason why the AFFA should pay the fine. We
haven’t paid the fine. But it usually happens that way: UEFA removes
the fine from the amount transferred from the organization to the
fined national federation. They must have already taken the fine.

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