UEFA to pass decision on place of Azerbaijan-Armenia match Apr 12

What issues will be discussed at the meeting of AFFA Executive Committee to be held on March 16?

The meeting is aimed to confirm the agenda of the next AFFA conference to be held on April 26. As usual, the conference will deal with the results of the previous year. Thus, reports of auditor organizations will be heard and auditor organization will be selected and confirmed for next year, the budget will be approved. Some other issues may occur during the conference. But main issues are those discussed in previous conference which meets AFFA Regulations.

Youth and Sports minister Azad Rahimov said legionary limitation will be extended in the conference. Has AFFA received any official appeal on the issue?

According to the AFFA Regulations, we have sent official notifications to all federation members three months before the conference. The proposals are to be submitted by 45 days before the conference. No club has made proposals on extension of legionary limitation so far.

UEFA president Michel Platini stated lately that Azerbaijan-Armenia matches will probably take place in neutral fields…

Platini said the issue will be considered in near future. April 12 is a near future. AFFA has received a letter on the issue. They invited us to the commission meeting to be held on April 12. After a preliminary decision on the place of Azerbaijan-Armenia match is approved that day, it will be submitted to the agenda of the UEFA Executive Committee meeting to be held a week later in Cardiff, Wales. If the final decision will be passed the matches to take place in neutral fields, we will suggest Ukraine, Switzerland and Austria. The exact place of the match will depend on the talks with Armenian party.

It is stated that the matches will probably take place in Donetsk, Ukraine…

Ukraine is among three suggested countries. If Armenia agrees, the matches may be organized here. But for now, I cannot say what country it will take place.

By the way, when are FIFA president Zepp Blatter and UEFA president Michel Platini visiting Baku?

The date hasn't been set yet, because it is unknown when Platini will come. During his visit to Georgia lately, he stated he will also visit Azerbaijan. He could go anywhere anytime before was elected UEFA president. But he is not very busy. Platini was expected to visit Azerbaijan the following day of UEFA Executive Committee meeting on April 18. At that time Blatter wil make a visit to Pakistan. He was also expected to come to Baku from there. But later on, it was clear that UEFA Executive Committee will assemble on April 19, not April 18. That’s why we don't know the exact date of FIFA and UEFA presidents' visit to Baku.

Will they participate in only the opening ceremony of AFFA's new office?

Of course, they will not leave the country after participating in an-hour ceremony. Blatter and Platini will have visit program. If they come, they will stay for two days in Baku. They are expected to view mini football fields constructed with financial support of international organizations. They will probably meet with President Ilham Aliyev, Youth and Sports minister Azad Rahimov.

Are the presidents expected to visit mini football fields in the regions?

It depends on them.

When are Azerbaijani U-21 team's matches in European championship qualifying scheduled?

The draw of the group took place March 13. The calendar is to be confirmed a month later fater the draw. UEFA will soon present us the schedule of team's first qualifying group.

Futsal Federation president Agarza Rzayev stated at the AFFA Executive Committee meeting that Baba Asgerov will be appointed head coach of the futsal team…

Agarza Rzayev has nothing to do with the appointment of head coach of the team. He can make proposal as a federation president. For the time being the Baba Asgerov is entrusted the team. We will take into consideration the opinions of Futsal Federation leadership, team figures and AFFA Futsal Committee when we appoint the head coach. But I cannot say when the concrete decision will be made.

Has any official protest letter been sent to the UEFA on the unfairness that Azerbaijani team faced during the European championship qualifying in Netherlands?

We are preparing the letter right now. We have added the video records and articles published in Dutch press outlet to the letter. We are going to send the letter to the UEFA on March 12. But it is impossible to play the match again. The UEFA may fine Serbian Football Federation.

Have you paid the fine imposed on the AFFA after Sergey Sokolov failed a doping test?

We haven't received an answer to the third letter sent to the UEFA asking to explain the reason why the AFFA should pay the fine. We haven't paid the fine. But it usually happens that way: UEFA removes the fine from the amount transferred from the organization to the fined national federation. They must have already taken the fine.