Flag row mars soccer match
Tensions were high at last Wednesday`s match between
Turkey and Armenia held in the Turkish town of Bursa, with fans
becoming involved in incidents linked to the ban on waving
Azerbaijani flags.
Turkish Milliyet newspaper`s Taha Akyol writes that soccer`s global governing body, FIFA, had banned Azerbaijani flags at the World Cup qualifier based on a request by Armenian authorities. According to Akyol, four to five hours prior to the match, FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke warned the Turkish Football Federation that the game would be called off unless the campaign involving Azerbaijani flags was prevented, and the Federation President, Mahmut Ozgener, notified government agencies about the warning.
The decision on whether or not to allow Azerbaijani flags into the stadium had been changed three times. After the Bursa city authorities` ban on carrying any flags other than those of Turkey and Armenia caused an outcry, it was lifted just a day before the match. However, just hours before the qualifer, FIFA again banned Azerbaijani flags. The police prevented carrying thousands of Azerbaijani flags to the Ataturk stadium. Fans clashed with officers, and incidents of throwing flags to the ground were reported.
Despite the counter-steps, a great number of youngsters began waving Azerbaijani flags along with those of Turkey as the match was underway. The flags of Azerbaijan that fans were not allowed to bring in were hoisted around the stadium and on poles at roadside, and throughout the game vehicles drove around the streets of Bursa displaying Azerbaijani flags.
Baku has sent its protest to Ankara over the disrespect shown for the Azerbaijani flag. According to the Foreign Ministry, Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov invited Turkish Charge d`Affaires in Baku, Nihat Civaner, to the ministry last week to voice Azerbaijan`s objection.
Turkey`s Hurriyet newspaper reported that four youngsters who tried to fly the Azerbaijani flag into the Bursa stadium by landing with a wind-powered glider were detained. The Bursa governor, Sahabettin Harput, said the four members of a group called Young Horseless Riders had sought to deliver a message to the world.
``An investigation has revealed that one of the detainees previously took airliner operation courses. He made preparations for this vociferous action beforehand… Thank Allah, our security forces neutralized and detained them in time,`` said Harput.
During the match, Armenian journalists waved the Armenian flag and chanted slogans, violating UEFA regulations and ignoring the demands of the Turkish Football Federation representatives.
Under UEFA bylaws, waving flags or posters in the stands designated for media representatives is prohibited.
The soccer match ended with Turkey`s 2:0 victory. The Turkish team sustained a loss at the 32nd minute after the Swedish referee showed a red card to Ceyhun Gurselam. Nonetheless, the Turks managed to score two goals, including one that was shot by ethnic Azerbaijani Servet Cetin.
Despite tensions and tremendous interest in the game worldwide, the match was strictly formal, as both Turkey and Armenia have lost their chances to advance to the final leg of the World Cup.
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian attended the match after being invited by his Turkish counterpart.
Turkey and Armenia face decades of enmity. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territory and Yerevan`s genocide claims. However, the two countries` leaders attended a 2010 World Cup qualifying soccer match together in Yerevan in September, which was seen as a sign of a thaw in Ankara-Yerevan ties. Further, President Abdullah Gul invited his Armenian counterpart to Turkey for a return game.
Turkish Milliyet newspaper`s Taha Akyol writes that soccer`s global governing body, FIFA, had banned Azerbaijani flags at the World Cup qualifier based on a request by Armenian authorities. According to Akyol, four to five hours prior to the match, FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke warned the Turkish Football Federation that the game would be called off unless the campaign involving Azerbaijani flags was prevented, and the Federation President, Mahmut Ozgener, notified government agencies about the warning.
The decision on whether or not to allow Azerbaijani flags into the stadium had been changed three times. After the Bursa city authorities` ban on carrying any flags other than those of Turkey and Armenia caused an outcry, it was lifted just a day before the match. However, just hours before the qualifer, FIFA again banned Azerbaijani flags. The police prevented carrying thousands of Azerbaijani flags to the Ataturk stadium. Fans clashed with officers, and incidents of throwing flags to the ground were reported.
Despite the counter-steps, a great number of youngsters began waving Azerbaijani flags along with those of Turkey as the match was underway. The flags of Azerbaijan that fans were not allowed to bring in were hoisted around the stadium and on poles at roadside, and throughout the game vehicles drove around the streets of Bursa displaying Azerbaijani flags.
Baku has sent its protest to Ankara over the disrespect shown for the Azerbaijani flag. According to the Foreign Ministry, Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov invited Turkish Charge d`Affaires in Baku, Nihat Civaner, to the ministry last week to voice Azerbaijan`s objection.
Turkey`s Hurriyet newspaper reported that four youngsters who tried to fly the Azerbaijani flag into the Bursa stadium by landing with a wind-powered glider were detained. The Bursa governor, Sahabettin Harput, said the four members of a group called Young Horseless Riders had sought to deliver a message to the world.
``An investigation has revealed that one of the detainees previously took airliner operation courses. He made preparations for this vociferous action beforehand… Thank Allah, our security forces neutralized and detained them in time,`` said Harput.
During the match, Armenian journalists waved the Armenian flag and chanted slogans, violating UEFA regulations and ignoring the demands of the Turkish Football Federation representatives.
Under UEFA bylaws, waving flags or posters in the stands designated for media representatives is prohibited.
The soccer match ended with Turkey`s 2:0 victory. The Turkish team sustained a loss at the 32nd minute after the Swedish referee showed a red card to Ceyhun Gurselam. Nonetheless, the Turks managed to score two goals, including one that was shot by ethnic Azerbaijani Servet Cetin.
Despite tensions and tremendous interest in the game worldwide, the match was strictly formal, as both Turkey and Armenia have lost their chances to advance to the final leg of the World Cup.
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian attended the match after being invited by his Turkish counterpart.
Turkey and Armenia face decades of enmity. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territory and Yerevan`s genocide claims. However, the two countries` leaders attended a 2010 World Cup qualifying soccer match together in Yerevan in September, which was seen as a sign of a thaw in Ankara-Yerevan ties. Further, President Abdullah Gul invited his Armenian counterpart to Turkey for a return game.
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