AZERBAIJAN NOT AFRAID OF UEFA SANCTIONS: AFFA PRESIDENT
Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
May 8 2007
Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend I.Alizade / The President of Association
of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA), Ramiz Mirzayev, said
that Azerbaijan is not afraid of UEFA sanctions.
"Our position on the meeting of the national teams of Azerbaijan and
Georgian remains unchanged. As previously, we do not refuse to hold
meetings. However, the meetings should be conducted in a neutral
stadium in a third country territory. We are ready to play against
Armenia in any country," Mirzayev said.
The AFFA President stated that as countries which meet the requirements
of both countries, Azerbaijan put forward the candidatures of Ukraine,
Austria and Switzerland. According to him, the UEFA Executive Committee
will reconsider this issue and make a decision in June. "The FIFA
congress will take place at the end of May, during which time the
UEFA will make a decision on the place and date of the meeting of
UEFA Executive Committee," Mirzayev said.
He stressed that the Armenian side also does not want to change its
position on this issue and wishes to come to Baku. However, this
does not mean that Armenia can play in Azerbaijan. The AFFA President
said that Armenia understands this very well and is simply trying to
obtain a negative response from Azerbaijan, which may cause sanctions
by the international organizations, he added.
"We give priority to national and State interests. We are ready to
receive any sanctions because release of occupied Azerbaijani land
and returning the internally displaced persons to their native land
is more important than football for us," AFFA President underlined.
Two meetings are expected to take place between the national football
teams of Armenia and Azerbaijan during the selection tournament of 2008
European Championship. Azerbaijan insists on conducting the meeting
in a neutral country, but the Armenian is insisting on Yerevan or
Baku. The final decision on this issue should be made by the AFFA
Executive Committee.