ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN NOT TO FACE-OFF IN EURO 2012
Tert.am
14:07 ~U 11.12.09
On February 7, 2010, the EURO 2012 qualifying draw will take place
in the Polish capital of Warsaw. Fifty-one of the 53 UEFA member
associations will take part in the qualifying draw.
The qualifying competition will comprise six groups of six teams
(groups A-F) and three groups of five teams (groups G-I). Sides
in each group will play one another on a home and away basis, with
qualifying matches scheduled according to the international match
calendar between September 2010 and November 2011. The nine winners
and the best runner-up qualify directly for the final tournament. The
eight remaining runners-up contest play-off matches.
Armenia and Azerbaijan are in different groups, though it was just
as likely that neighbouring countries could’ve been in the same group.
However, according to Georgian Football Federation President
Revaz Arveladze, UEFA decided that the two countries will not be
in any groups together. But what does Arveladze have to do with
Armenia-Azerbaijan football relations? The reason is that Georgia
currently has an issue with Russia and with this in mind, Arveladze
met with UEFA representatives, with whom he discussed the possible
scenarios of the qualifying draw.
It was during that discussion that UEFA announced its position,
stating that Russia and Georgia, and Armenia and Azerbaijan will be
in different groups.
In Euro 2008, Armenia and Azerbaijan were in the same group, though
no matches between the teams took place at that time. UEFA came
to the conclusion that holding matches was dangerous. As a result,
Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s teams were penalized, by having twice as
less matches than the other participating teams.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
