Tweet
"LONDON (Reuters) -- Two Euro 2008 Group A matches between Armenia and Azerbaijan have been cancelled, with both countries losing the six qualifying points available, European soccer's governing body UEFA said on Saturday.
The neighboring countries have been involved in a long-running dispute over land. Armenia wanted the games played on a normal home and away basis but Azerbaijan refused to host the Armenians and proposed a neutral ground for both matches.
'As no suitable compromise could be found between the two associations it was decided to cancel the two matches, namely Azerbaijan-Armenia scheduled for Sept. 8 and Armenia-Azerbaijan scheduled for Sept. 12,' UEFA said in a statement following a meeting of its executive committee in the Netherlands.
'It was decided to award both associations zero points for the matches.'
Ukraine, Switzerland, Austria and Spain had been mentioned as possible neutral venues for the games but this was not agreeable to either side."
I only found out about this today. I think it is a disgrace! UEFA are punishing Armenia for Azerbaijan's refusal to play by the normal rules. If Azerbaijan were refusing to host one of the big footballing nations (eg. Italy, Holland, Germany etc. then i'm sure it would only be the Azeri's getting points deducted.
The neighboring countries have been involved in a long-running dispute over land. Armenia wanted the games played on a normal home and away basis but Azerbaijan refused to host the Armenians and proposed a neutral ground for both matches.
'As no suitable compromise could be found between the two associations it was decided to cancel the two matches, namely Azerbaijan-Armenia scheduled for Sept. 8 and Armenia-Azerbaijan scheduled for Sept. 12,' UEFA said in a statement following a meeting of its executive committee in the Netherlands.
'It was decided to award both associations zero points for the matches.'
Ukraine, Switzerland, Austria and Spain had been mentioned as possible neutral venues for the games but this was not agreeable to either side."
I only found out about this today. I think it is a disgrace! UEFA are punishing Armenia for Azerbaijan's refusal to play by the normal rules. If Azerbaijan were refusing to host one of the big footballing nations (eg. Italy, Holland, Germany etc. then i'm sure it would only be the Azeri's getting points deducted.
Comment