Azerbaijan’s football federation association slams Armenian provocation at EURO-2024 match

The Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) has issued a statement regarding the provocation that took place during the match between Armenia and Croatia in the qualifying round of EURO-2024 in Yerevan.

The statement condemned the actions of Armenian fans and condemned all steps aimed at using football as a political tool, Caliber.Az reports citing the official website of the national association.

“In the 35th minute of the Armenia-Croatia match, which took place on September 11, 2023, within the framework of the qualifying round of EURO-2024, the display of the so-called regime's ‘flag’ by drone in the area of the stadium is strongly condemned, and the Football Federation of Armenia is required to take measures to prevent such acts that tarnish Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity and to deter its fans from these actions,” the statement said.

“We also inform you that these acts are not being committed for the first time. As AFFA, we express and will express our complaints to UEFA and other higher bodies against all kinds of actions aimed at using football as a political tool. We hope that the institution will make a decision in a fair manner by addressing a request to UEFA regarding the mentioned issue. We note once again that sports games should not be used as a tool for political actions,” it added.