World Cup 2010 Qualifying

[AlphaPapa]

Re: World Cup 2010 Qualifying

That fugger had no 'grace' with that display of affection.

[Federate]

Re: World Cup 2010 Qualifying

Sarkisian Condemned For Turkish Goal ‘Celebrations’

President Serzh Sarkisian faced harsh criticism from domestic political opponents, media and football fans on Thursday for what they saw as his unbridled celebration of Turkey’s defeat of Armenia in a high-profile match the previous night.
Playing in the northwestern Turkish city of Bursa, the Armenian national soccer team was beaten 2-0 by the superior Turks in front of about 19,000 passionate spectators as well as the presidents of the two mutually antagonistic countries.

Sarkisian broadly smiled and promptly congratulated his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul with handshake every time Turkey scored to seal the victory. The scene, highly unusual for heads of state attending major football games, was repeatedly replayed by Turkish television broadcasting the match to both countries.

The spokesman for Sarkisian’s Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) defended the president’s seemingly warm reaction to the Turkish goals that came after a mass jeering of Armenia’s national anthem played in Bursa’s Ataturk stadium. “He smiled because the goal was nice. He enjoyed watching football,” Eduard Sharmazanov explained at a news conference in Yerevan, sparking laughter among journalists.

But for many Armenians disappointed with their team’s dismal performance, Sarkisian’s behavior appears to have only added insult to injury. His critics were quick to seize upon what is shaping up as another public relations setback for Yerevan’s “football diplomacy” with Ankara.

“Every Armenian who saw that footage last night will draw appropriate conclusions,” said Arman Musinian, a spokesman for the main opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK). “I will just say that nothing else could be expected from this regime.”

“It’s hard to say what influenced Serzh Sarkisian’s hearty rejoicing of the goals conceded by our team will have on Gul and what results it will produce in terms of the ‘football diplomacy,’ but it can be asserted for certain that it has been perceived very badly in Armenia,” “Haykakan Zhamanak,” Armenia’s best-selling daily sympathetic to the HAK, wrote in a front-page article.

Hakob Badalian, a commentator for the independent online journal Lragir.am, singled out Sarkisian’s “joy” in a commentary on the Armenian president’s landmark visit to Turkey. “What was the point of rejoicing so demonstratively?” he asked. “Was he confused or took it as a good opportunity to please Gul? Either way, the scene was rather ugly.”

“Usually, presidents watching football games are very reserved if they sit next to their counterparts and, the more so, if the rival team scores,” argued Badalian.

The sentiment was echoed on the streets of Yerevan, with many people randomly interviewed by RFE/RL reacting to the episode with anger. “[Sarkisian] was very happy that the Armenians are losing,” claimed one man. “He celebrated when they scored.”

“He was happy that the Armenians lost,” agreed a middle-aged woman. “Didn’t you watch him? He liked that. I don’t know if that was diplomacy or not, but he had nothing to rejoice about.”

“He smiled too much,” observed a younger soccer fan. “I do understand that he had to stick to the etiquette. But he should have been a bit more reserved in congratulating [Gul.]”

http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/1852850.html

[Alexandros]

Re: World Cup 2010 Qualifying

Baku officially accused Ankara of showing disrespect for Azeri flag

15.10.2009 20:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan's Deputy FM Araz Azimov Thursday received Nihat Civaner, Turkey's Charge d'Affaires in Azerbaijan. During the meeting, Azeri official expressed official protest against disrespect for Azerbaijani flag during the October 14 Turkey-Armenia soccer match, Trend News reports.

Local authorities in Turkish Bursa and Armenian Football Federation prohibited fans to wave Azerbaijani flag during the match between Armenian and Turkish teams. Nevertheless the flag sneaked into stadium. It was seen there from time to time, but the fans hid it quickly not to let police notice, a PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent reported from Bursa.

Link

[Haykakan]

Re: World Cup 2010 Qualifying

Yeh i was a bit worried about our players safety to until they started playing and then i wanted to kill them myself.

[AlphaPapa]

Re: World Cup 2010 Qualifying

I thought at the last minute they changed their mind about Azeri flags? (turks, not fifa)

Well, I expected worse from turks...having followed their matches against Greece.

For footie fans who haven't seen it yet, go check out 'international football factories"

[Ari]

Re: World Cup 2010 Qualifying

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/1949/filem.jpg

xxxxing idiots!! they should get a fine from fifa for this, makes me sick


how many armenians did the trip? is there a picture of the away bay?

[Alexandros]

Re: World Cup 2010 Qualifying

Despite ban, Azerbaijani flag sneaked into Bursa Ataturk Stadium

15.10.2009 14:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Despite a FIFA ban, fans sneaked an Azerbaijani flag into Bursa Ataturk Stadium for Armenia-Turkey World Cup 2010 qualifier. The small Azerbaijani flag was seen in the stadium from time to time. The fans hid it quickly not to let police notice.

Link

[AlphaPapa]

Re: World Cup 2010 Qualifying

The Turks are a futbol playing country and we are a chess playing country. The difference is that we're on top of the world in chess and the Turks are not in futbol.

True, and they have millions of players to choose from, and yet a country of 3 million still put up a damn fight...just like these guys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53Yr4yOue58

I'm proud of the Armenian nationall team. They played a strong game against the undefeated Spanish team. Hell, even the Russian powerhouse tied with azerbaijan...its all BS and I'm sure the gambling community had more to do with the outcome than 'chance'. Turkish commentators predicted a tie or even an Armenian win due to issues with their team.

Soccer diplomacy...aren't distractions great?!

[AlphaPapa]

fak!

The only thing I would be interested in is if they were asked to remove their team badge with the Ararat on it again.

I had forgotten about that shameful act...thanks for reminding me.

[Federate]

Re: World Cup 2010 Qualifying

The Turks are a futbol playing country and we are a chess playing country. The difference is that we're on top of the world in chess and the Turks are not in futbol.