AssA-Irada, Azerbaijan
October 15, 2009 Thursday

FLAG ROW MARS TURKEY-ARMENIA SOCCER MATCH

Tensions were high at Wednesdays match between Turkey and Armenia held in
the Turkish town of Bursa, with fans becoming involved in incidents linked
to the ban on waving Azerbaijani flags. Turkish Milliyet newspapers Taha
Akyol writes that soccers global governing body FIFA banned Azerbaijani
flags at the World Cup qualifier based on an appeal by the Armenian
authorities. According to him, four to five hours prior to the match, FIFA
Secretary General Jerome Valcke warned the Turkish Football Federation that
the game would be called off unless the campaign involving Azerbaijani flags
is prevented, and the Federation President, Mahmut Ozgener, informed
government agencies about the warning.

The decision on whether or not to allow Azerbaijani flags at the stadium had
been changed three times. After the Bursa city authorities ban on carrying
any flags other than those of Turkey and Armenia caused an outcry, it was
lifted just a day before the match. However, just hours before the qualifer,
FIFA banned Azerbaijani flags again. The police prevented carrying thousands
of Azerbaijani flags to the Ataturk stadium. Fans clashed with law
enforcers, and facts of throwing flags to the ground were reported. Despite
the counter-steps, a great number of youngsters began waving Azerbaijani
flags along with those of Turkey as the match went underway. The flags of
Azerbaijan that fans were not allowed to bring in were hoisted around the
stadium and on poles on roadside, and vehicles drove around on the streets
of Bursa with Azerbaijani flags throughout the game. Baku has expressed
protest to Ankara over disrespect for the Azerbaijani flag. According to the
Foreign Ministry, Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov invited Turkish Charge
dAffaires in Baku, Nihat Civaner, to the ministry on Thursday and voiced
Azerbaijans objection. Turkeys Hurriyet newspaper reported that four
youngsters who tried to put an Azerbaijani flag to the Bursa stadium by
landing with a wind-powered airliner were detained. The Bursa governor,
Sahabettin Harput, said the four members of a group called Young Horseless
Riders had sought to deliver a message to the world. A scrutiny has revealed
that one of the detainees previously took airliner operation courses. He
made preparations for this vociferous action beforehand Thank Allah, our
security forces neutralized and detained them on time, said Harput. Armenian
journalists who watched the match started waving the Armenian flag and
chanting slogans, violating UEFA regulations and ignoring the demands of the
Turkish Football Federation representatives. Under UEFA bylaws, waving flags
or posters in the stands designated for media representatives is prohibited.
The soccer match ended with Turkeys 2:0 victory. The Turkish team sustained
a loss at the 32nd minute after the Swedish referee showed a red card to
Ceyhun Gurselam. Nonetheless, the Turks managed to score two goals,
including one that was shot by ethnic Azerbaijani Servet Cetin. Despite
tensions and tremendous interest in the game worldwide, the match was
strictly formal, as both Turkey and Armenia have lost their chances to
advance to the final leg of the World Cup. Armenian President Serzh
Sarkisian attended the match on his Turkish counterparts invitation. Turkey
and Armenia face decades of enmity. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in
1993 due to Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territory and Yerevans
genocide claims. However, the two countries leaders attended a 2010 World
Cup qualifying soccer match together in Yerevan in September, which showed
signs of a thaw in Ankara-Yerevan ties. Further, President Abdullah Gul
invited his Armenian counterpart to Turkey for a return game.