The Azerbaijani ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) disagrees with the FIFA decision banning to bring the Azerbaijani flags in the Turkey-Armenia football match.
“Sport should not be politicized. Sport is the arena of peace, friendship and cooperation. Since when were restrictions on flags applied? How is the decision correct not to allow the Azerbaijani flag into the stadium so that to satisfy Armenia? There is no such prohibition in the rules. FIFA does not have such rules and this organization prohibits the display of nationalism, fascism and racism. The flag of friendship should be waved in Bursa, Deputy Executive Secretary of the NAP Mubariz Gurbanli said in an interview with the official website of the NAP.
On Oct.15, the Turkish city of Bursa hosted the Turkey-Armenia football match under the World Cup qualifying stage for 2010. FIFA has decided to prohibit bringing Azerbaijan’s flag into the stadium.
According to Gurbanli, “football diplomacy” has become a unique tool for the Turkish-Armenian negotiations.
“Everybody knew that persons loving Azerbaijan were likely to enter the stadium with the Azerbaijani flag in Bursa. However, the Bursa mayor prohibited to carry the Azerbaijani flags to the stadium and it caused anger and irritation among people. The Azerbaijani flag had had to become a symbol of support for Turkey’s national team. I believe Turkey’s decision was very wrong. When the flag of
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