Sports: Andorra anthem played before Albania match, organizers apologize to Armenia

Indian Express
Sept 7 2019
 
 
Andorra anthem played before Albania match, organizers apologize to Armenia
 
An Albania fan at the European Championship qualifying match between France and Albania on Saturday (Reuters Photo)
Albania players looked bemused as they realized it was the wrong anthem. Camera images showed angry Albanian fans making offensive gestures in protest at the error.
 
By AP |Paris |Published: September 8, 2019 1:07:05 am
 
An Albania fan at the European Championship qualifying match between France and Albania on Saturday (Reuters Photo)
 
In an embarrassing mix-up, the wrong national anthem was played for Albania before it faced France in a European Championship qualifier on Saturday.
 
Players looked bemused as they realized it was the wrong anthem – Andorra’s, according to UEFA’s website – with camera images showing angry Albanian fans making offensive gestures in protest at the error.
  
France coach Didier Deschamps spoke with Albania coach Edoardo Reja as referee Jesus Gil Manzano waited several minutes for the right anthem to be played at Stade de France before starting the game – which was delayed by nearly 10 minutes.
 
Then, when the correct anthem was about to be played there was another embarrassing incident as the stadium announcer apologized to “Armenia’s fans” and called on fans to respect the “Armenia national anthem” before realizing his glaring mistake and saying Albania.
 
France’s next opponent is Andorra at home on Tuesday.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS