TURKISH PEOPLE HAVE REFUSED TO VISIT ARMENIA

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[04:48 pm] 02 September, 2008

Turkey Football Federation has officially rejected its disposed
tickets for September 6, 2010 World Cup qualifying match. This news
was announced by Ruben Hayrapetyan, the chairman of Football Federation
of Armenia (FFA) at today’s press conference.

"According to FIFA regulations host country is obliged to place 5%
of match tickets at visiting country’s disposal, but Turkey Football
Federation has officially refused pointing out that their fans will
not arrive in Armenia. Their delegation consists just of 130 people",
said the chairman of Armenian Football Federation.

Armenian national team introduced a new emblem on occasion of
Armenia-Turkey match. Its official presentation took place at the
beginning of the conference. Ruben Hayrapetyan explained the change
of the emblem of FFA by the request of football fan community. Many
football fans didn’t like the previous one. But what refers to the
point of Mt. Ararat image on the previous one, there were no complaints
on that and nobody was to prohibit us. We simply considered right to
change it to meet the social claim.

Ruben Hayrapetyan excluded that Armenia and Turkey teams can hold
an arranged results match taking into consideration the existing
political situation between the two countries. "How could respected
countries make a deal like that?"

Coming to the footballers’ trainings the chairman of FFA drew
attention to the fact that team candidates have already joined the
National Team being physically fit. "Yesterday we had part-team slight
trainings. Four people hadn’t arrived yet but they have already arrived
by now and will take part in today’s trainings. I have talked to the
coach and he was pleased with all the candidates. It makes me happy
that none of them has any injuries. Yesterday I also conducted a
meeting. All the footballers have strong competitive will and it’s
indisputable that we will be a success in this match".

At that gathering Ruben Hayrapetyan aimed the footballers to win the
match in the upcoming competition. "The Team has also a task to attain
a pass to 2010 World Cup final. It has been 6 years I am the chairman
of FFA and I have never set a goal to draw the match. My targets are
maximum gains and I always aim the team to win."

Ruben Hayrapetyan appealed football fans arrive at the Stadium 30-40
minutes before the match. "When there is a big crowd, it’s physically
impossible to provide their entrance to the Stadium on a high level".

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress