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UEFA President thanks Armenia and Turkey
Monday 8 September 2008
Executive Office
On Saturday, Armenia and Turkey played a qualifying match for the 2010
FIFA World Cup in Yerevan. It was a qualifier like any other with
goals, early-season tensions, playing rhythms and passing combinations
not yet quite up to scratch - to sum up, a game played at the start of
September.
Historical context
What made this fixture somewhat exceptional, however, was the
historical context of the game. One has to imagine two countries with
a common border, who ignore each other and who have not had any
relations for 90 years - certainly a unique case in world terms.
Exemplary spirit
UEFA President Michel Platini underlined the importance of the
occasion, saying: "Football is our world. Consequently, it is not our
intention to analyse the reasons for this state of affairs. However,
it must be emphasised today that football has, once again, brought
people closer together. A president of Turkey has visited Armenia for
the first time. The Turkish national anthem was played and respected
in Yerevan. There was great emotion on both sides, and my
representatives in Yerevan tell me that the match was played in an
exemplary spirit.
Extraordinary example
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the two associations
and the players. They have provided an extraordinary example of the
power of sport's spirit, and have sent out a considerable message of
hope in a region which has a great need of such messages."
©uefa.com 1998-2008. All rights reserved.
UEFA President thanks Armenia and Turkey
Monday 8 September 2008
Executive Office
On Saturday, Armenia and Turkey played a qualifying match for the 2010
FIFA World Cup in Yerevan. It was a qualifier like any other with
goals, early-season tensions, playing rhythms and passing combinations
not yet quite up to scratch - to sum up, a game played at the start of
September.
Historical context
What made this fixture somewhat exceptional, however, was the
historical context of the game. One has to imagine two countries with
a common border, who ignore each other and who have not had any
relations for 90 years - certainly a unique case in world terms.
Exemplary spirit
UEFA President Michel Platini underlined the importance of the
occasion, saying: "Football is our world. Consequently, it is not our
intention to analyse the reasons for this state of affairs. However,
it must be emphasised today that football has, once again, brought
people closer together. A president of Turkey has visited Armenia for
the first time. The Turkish national anthem was played and respected
in Yerevan. There was great emotion on both sides, and my
representatives in Yerevan tell me that the match was played in an
exemplary spirit.
Extraordinary example
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the two associations
and the players. They have provided an extraordinary example of the
power of sport's spirit, and have sent out a considerable message of
hope in a region which has a great need of such messages."
©uefa.com 1998-2008. All rights reserved.