IN OPINION OF ARMENIAN URUGUAYAN COACH, UNLESS NECESSARY STEPS ARE TAKEN IN SECURITY ISSUE, ARMENIA-TURKEY FOOTBALL MATCH MAY HAVE TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES
Noyan Tapan
Au g 19, 2008
MONTEVIDEO, AUGUST 19, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian
Uruguayan Sergio Margarian, a famous football coach, does not consider
the presence of Turkish fans desirable at the Armenia-Turkey football
match to be held in September. He said that during an interview with
Radio Liberty:
"When I was the coach of Panathinaikos (Greece), we went to Turkey
to play with Turkey’s Fenerbahce for UEFA Cup. I can’t forget the
violence we were subjected to both on the pitch and outside it, due to
which the return match in Athens was held in the absence of Turkish
fans – based on a decision of the UEFA," Margarian said, adding:
"We should be cautious and not confuse the dark pages of the history
of the Armenian people with sports. The most important thing is that
we should show to the world that Armenia is a civilized country and
we can win by playing a good football match," he noted. According to
Sergio Margarian, unless all necessary steps are taken in security
issue, the match may have tragic consequences.