Saudi Arabia allows women at football game for first time

January 13, 2018 By administrator

Saudi Arabia has for the first time allowed women to spectate at a football match, part of an easing of strict rules on gender separation by the ultra-conservative Muslim country.

Women fans filed into a stadium in the city of Jeddah on Friday, through family gates into family seating, BBC News reports.

But even segregated as they were, their presence in the stadium marked a significant moment for the Kingdom.

It follows a series of reforms intended to modernise the country.

Earlier on Friday, ahead of the football game, there was another small sign of change: the country’s first car showroom dedicated to female customers was opened.

For the first time, women will this June be allowed to get behind the wheel, after it was announced in September that a ban on women drivers would be lifted.

Women at the car showroom milled around inspecting vehicles that they will be allowed to take out on the road when the ban ends.

At the stadium in Jeddah, female ushers were employed to greet the women fans and their families, who loudly cheered on the local team. Both ushers and fans wore the traditional black abaya robe.

A hashtag, translated as “the people welcome the entry of women into stadiums”, was used tens of thousands of times in two hours as the match took place.

Under Saudi Arabia’s guardianship system, women must be accompanied by a male family member to travel, and work. Most restaurants and cafes have two sections, one for just men and one for families, which are for women and their husbands and families.

The recent reforms are part of a gradual process of modernisation under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is attempting to make the Kingdom more moderate.

Turkey: the former football star Hakan Sükür tried for insulting Erdogan

June 17, 2016 By administrator

The trial of the former star of Turkish football Hakan Sükür for “insulting” the President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a controversial count for which he faces up to four years in prison, opened Thursday in Istanbul, reported news agency Dogan.

The prosecutor of the Istanbul Bakirkoy district claims against the author of the fastest goal in the history of the World Cup in 2002 in South Korea, one to four years in prison for “insulting” Mr. Erdogan in a series of tweets since erased, Dogan said, without specifying the content.

According to the daily Hürriyet, Hakan would Sükür refers to a corruption scandal in 2013 for the Erdogan’s entourage and launched without naming him: “Is this how you become a politician, impudent?” Absent when first hearing, the former player now lives in the US, according to his lawyer Ali Onur güncel quoted by Dogan. The trial was adjourned to give time to the defense to disclose the new address of the player to the court, the agency said.

Since his election to the presidency in August 2014, Erdogan accused by his critics of wanting stifle all dissent, has multiplied the proceedings for “insult” to both artists and journalists as individuals.

After a rich sports career, especially with the club Galatasaray Sükür had entered politics to Erdogan sides and had been elected in 2011 on a list of his Justice and Development Party (AKP), in power since 2002.

But hostile to Erdogan’s decision to launch a war on his former ally became his enemy number 1, the influential preacher Fethullah Gulen who lives in the United States which is deemed to be a follower, he had resigned from the AKP in 2013.

Hakan Sükür had denied it a few months ago have moved to the United States, ensuring that he went to “learn English”.

Aged 44, Hakan Sükür spent most of his career at Galatasaray Istanbul club with which he won 8 times the championship of Turkey and the UEFA Cup in 2000. In the national team he has 112 caps and scored 51 goals between 1992 and 2008 with a 3rd place at the 2002 World Cup.

Istanbul: security reasons football match between two of Istanbul’s top teams has been postponed

March 20, 2016 By administrator

_88867887_0a9f1931-3028-4b1d-b4be-11b26d9b4755 A football match between two of Istanbul’s top teams has been postponed for security reasons, Turkish authorities have announced.

The game was called off at short notice, a day after a suicide bomber killed four people in the city.

The Istanbul governor’s office said the decision had been taken “after the evaluation of credible intelligence”.

The bombing in Istanbul’s main shopping street was blamed by the authorities on so-called Islamic State (IS).

Fans had already begun to arrive for the Fenerbahce-Galatasaray match at Galatasaray’s Turk Telecom Arena when the announcement was made.

There were boos as supporters were left with no choice but to leave the ground.

The postponement came even though the authorities have repeatedly urged the 15 million inhabitants of Turkey’s largest city to carry on with their normal daily lives after the blast.

Interior Minister Efken Ala meanwhile named the bomb suspect as Mehmet Ozturk, born in 1992 in Gaziantep.

He told reporters that five people had been questioned so far.

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Mr Ala also announced a review of security measures in seven Turkish provinces following several attacks since July.

Three Israelis – two with Israeli-US nationality – and an Iranian were killed by the bomb attack. Another 36 were injured.

Armenian, Henrikh Mkhitaryan among Europe’s top five football players

February 29, 2016 By administrator

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is among the five best football players of Europe, according to Whoscored.com.

After a goal and an assist in the game against Hoffenheim, the Armenian footballer’s rating has gone up to 7.98, surpassing that of Luis Suárez (7.96), who currently plays for FC Barcelona.

Neymar (8.52), Lionel Messi (8.32), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (8.17), Gareth Bale (8.14) also made it to the list of top five European players.

FOOTBALL: The national team of Western Armenia is inclined 2-3 against Olympique de Marseille (CFA)

January 7, 2016 By administrator

arton120677-480x320 Armenian atmosphere up at the announcement of this teams in Armenian Christmas Day at the stadium “Michel-Hidalgo” of Sausset-les-Pins. It is in a relaxed atmosphere that the 22 players enter the pitch, the Armenian and French anthems resound to the hundred people present in the stands. The proceeds are donated to charitable organizations in Armenia. Faced with several dozen supporters came to that first meeting, the selection of Western Armenia where players evolve Armenian professionals or semi-professionals playing in the championship of Armenia but also in the championships of France such as UGA Ardziv or Switzerland (Servette Geneva) Division3 well as Belgium and Germany, almost on a par with phocéens. The Armenians were determined. The Football Federation of Western Armenia who wishes to bring together players from the Western Armenia can count on 10 million Armenians in the world where a large majority is from the genocide.

It took 6 minutes to attend the opening of Fabrice Apruzesse score that easily manages his first face to face, and allows Olympians to lead quickly to score. OM then manages the first period, but can thank his guardian Mendy author of several major parades. At the 35th minute the Armenians were close to equalize from the penalty spot. But the shooting Zaven Bulut turned away by goalkeeper olympien.A halftime, OM leads 1-0 to the Armenian selection that plays its first official game since its inception in June 2015. In the second period, arrival of new Armenian supporters drums heats the temperature. Inside the box, the OM midfielder Kraichi his left foot and allow OM to make the break in the 58th minute. Only three minutes after the second goal, Berberyan defender just entered the field for the Armenian selection catapult the ball into his own goal on a strong center Omrani, joined the half. The show continues in this second act. Vahagn Militosyan is not attacked by the Olympian defense. He tried his luck from 20 meters and beats Madade, entered at the break. Armenia amounts to 3-1. While the cold sets in, Vahagn Militosyan doubles the mark on a free kick close to the surface, facing Olympians liabilities at the end of meeting. Armenians are brave close to equalize in the last munites the match. Olympique de Marseille will fear to the end and a last stop Madede allows the Marseillais to prevail 3-2.

12294653_496644987182270_7988075107679263734_n-480x198-480x198 Referee: M. Pierre Martinenq assisted by Mohammed Brahim Arabtani and Freddy.

Goals – OM: Apruzesse (6) Kraichi (58) Berberyan (61 og). Armenia Militosyan (66, 85)

OM: Mendy (Madede, 45) – Dubois, Pepe, Toure, Dacosta (cap) – Gimenes (Araai, 77), Chabrolle (Apruzesse, 77), Kraichi – Boutobba, Apruzesse (Omrani, 45) Porsan Clemente. Coach: Thomas Fernandez.

Western Armenia: Khanzaryan – Tepelyan, Bezdikyan, Yagan (cap), Kaya – Yagan, Oz (Odemis, 83) Kurkciyan – Hoysepyani (Berberyan, 53), Bulut (Kaya, 63) Militosyan. Coach: Gilbert Catikoglu.

Article partially taken from the OM website.

Krikor Amirzayan

Turkish football fans boo moment of silence for victims of Paris attacks Shouting Alla-u-Akbar

November 18, 2015 By administrator

Turkish supporters attending an international football friendly against Greece on Nov. 17 refused to participate in a minute of silence following the recent jihadist attacks on France, choosing instead to boo the commemoration.

A section of the crowd at Fatih Terim Stadium in Istanbul’s Başakşehir district had first whistled during the playing of the Greek national anthem, prompting Turkish star Arda Turan to remonstrate with the crowd. Arda’s intervention, however, failed to stop the booing.

During the subsequent moment of silence, supporters also whistled their disapproval while a section of the crowed also reportedly shouted “Allah-u Akbar” and “Martyrs don’t die, the homeland will not be divided” – a common nationalist slogan.

“We’re staging a moment of silence for people that have died. Can’t we be patient for one minute? When we go abroad, we’re not able to explain this,” Turkish national team coach Fatih Terim said after the match. “It doesn’t reflect well on us at all.”

The match ended in a 0-0 draw.

The behavior in Başakşehir was in stark contrast to the scenes at London’s Wembley Stadium, where English and French fans both sang the Marseillaise before the match before studiously observing the minute of silence.

The booing ahead of the Greece game produced a reaction both at home and abroad.

One month ago, Turkish supporters in the Central Anatolian province of Konya also booed a minute of silence for the victims of the Oct. 10 Ankara Massacre, in which 100 peace activists were killed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Source: hurriyetdailynews

Armenian football national team coach invites 23 players for match with Serbia

August 26, 2015 By administrator

The acting head coach of the Armenian football national team Sargis Hovsepyan invited 23 footballers for the Euro-2016 qualifier with Serbians, according to the website of Armenia’s Football Federation.

The invited players are:
Goalkeepers Gevork Kasparov (“Alashkert”, Martuni), Arsen Beglaryan (“Mika”, Yerevan), Gevorg Prazyan (“Ararat”, Yerevan).

Defenders: Robert Arzumanyan (Amkar, Perm), Hrayr Mkoyan (Esteghlal, Iran), Gael Andonyan (Olympic, Marseille), Hovhannes Hambartsumyan (Vardar, Macedonia), Levon Hayrapetyan (Piunik, Yerevan), Taron Voskanyan (Piunik, Yerevan), Varazdat Aroyan (Piunik, Yerevan), Kamo Hovhannisyan (Piunik, Yerevan).

Halfbacks: Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Borussia, Dortmund), Gevorg Ghazaryan (Maritimo, Portugal), Marcos Pizzelli (Aktobe, Kazakhstan), Aras Ozbiliz (Spartak, Moscow), Karlen Mkrtchyan (Anji, Makhachkala), Norayr Aslanyan (Almere City, Netherlands), Artem Simonyan (Zurich, Switzerland), Artur Yuspashyan (Piunik, Yerevan), Artak Grigoryan (Alashkert, Martuni).

Forwards: Yura Movsisyan (Spartak, Moscow), Edgar Manucharyan (Ural, Yekaterinburg), Ruslan Koryan (Luch-energiya, Vladivostok).

Training sessions are scheduled in Yerevan on August 31 – September 3. The Armenian national football team will leave for Serbia on the morning of September 3.

Source: Panorama.am

Turkey: Foreign Policy Journal: Football Player Who Killed ‘Football Diplomacy’

June 3, 2015 By administrator

Armenian News – NEWS.am presents the abridged version of an article by Andranik Israyelyan, International Relations scholar working at the Diplomatic School of Armenia, published in Foreign Policy Journal:

“In March 2003, Recep Tayyip Erdogan became the Prime Minister of Turkey, replacing Abdullah Gul; the latter took the post of the Foreign Minister. Meanwhile, Ahmet Davutoglu was invited to become the Prime Minister’s chief foreign policy adviser. This triumvirate would shape Turkish foreign policy for the next decade. The “Armenian opening” was one of the most challenging tasks for these foreign policy makers of Ankara.

Erdogan, a graduate of the religious Imam Hatip School and a former semi—professional football player, was the trio’s most powerful figure, yet he had a relatively passive role in shaping Turkish foreign policy. This is best explained by his narrow worldview. His chief adviser, Ibrahim Kalin, would later describe Erdogan as a politician rather than a diplomat, and one with a poor understanding of international relations. His tirades and hate speeches have even led to a breakdown in Turkey’s relations with Israel, Egypt, and Syria.

Abdullah Gul, a graduate of the UK’s University of Exeter, has always been a man of integrity. When in 2003 Foreign Minister Gul met with his Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanian and expressed his readiness to start a normalization process free from preconditions, it was music to the ears for Armenia’s top diplomat. Yet months later, Gul confessed to Oskanian that intense debate within the inner cycle of Turkish leadership had concluded that Azerbaijan’s interests could not be sidestepped. This, perhaps, was the first row between the ideologues and pragmatists on the “Armenian opening.”

Already serving as President in 2008, Gul accepted the invitation from his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan to visit Yerevan. This was the start of what has become known among foreign policy circles as “football diplomacy.” As Gul had been the driving force behind the Armenian opening in Turkey, his Foreign Minister, Ali Babacan, was an excellent candidate for the routine work. As these pragmatists pushed the process forward, Turkey’s ideologues did not hesitate to jump in and wreak havoc. And they did it quickly. In May 2009, Babacan was replaced by Ahmet Davutoglu.

Upon taking the office of Foreign Minister, Davutoglu, according to senior US diplomat David Phillips, rushed to scratch the Protocols between Armenia and Turkey. A few days later after Davutoglu’s appointment, Erdogan went to Baku to allay Azerbaijani fears about normalizing Turkish-Armenian relations.”

What happened next was unimaginable for Gul and for Davutoglu. Ignoring the briefings by the Foreign Ministry, Erdogan declared that borders with Armenia will not open until Armenian troops withdraw from all “occupied territories of Azerbaijan.” In a moment of irony, the “football diplomacy” was obliterated by none other than a former footballer because of his aversion to diplomacy.

Within this context, the new Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, is left with no other option but to fault Armenia for stalling the normalization process, and to lay the blame for Turkey’s tarnished image abroad with the Armenian Diaspora.”

Source: news.am

Breaking: Greece: Government suspends professional football after violence

February 25, 2015 By administrator

The Greek government has suspended professional football in the country indefinitely in a crackdown on violence. BBC Report

The move follows violence at a match between rivals Olympiakos and Panathinaikos, as well as a brawl between club officials at a board meeting on Tuesday.

The Greek league has already been suspended twice this season due to violence.

Football: Germany wins against Armenia (6-1). Armenians who had equalized in the 69th minute have cracked late in the game

June 7, 2014 By administrator

Armenia has withstood a half against Germany, world class number two. In a friendly match in Mainz (Mainz) on Friday night, Armenia, dominated held firm for more than 50 minutes against the onslaught Germans largely dominating the Armenian selection. Germany opened the scoring by Andre Schürrle (52). But in the 69th minute, one of the few attacks Armenia, Gevorg Ghazarian was fouled in the area of German reparation. Henrikh Mkhitaryan equalized from the penalty (69). Less than 20 minutes after the game, the score was tied between Germany and Armenia. Armenia held a feat. But logic had run its course and the “German Machine” unfold relentlessly.

Lukas Podolski restored the advantage to Germany (72). Benedikt Höwedes and (73), Miroslav Klose (77) and Mario Götze (83, 89) carried the score to 6-1 in favor of the German selection. A selection nevertheless a blow with the injury to his left ankle Marco Reus left the field. After this victory river, Germany reassured and confident will fly to Brazil, where she will face Portugal (June 16) for his first match at the World Cup. Armenia has withstood before cracking, will coach Bernard Challandes around rethink organize his back line very excited. Note that hundreds of supporters Armenians were present at Coface Arena Mainz with dozens of Armenian tricolor widely visible for a live broadcast by many television channels match.

Armenia back to the 38th World position in FIFA rankings … is ahead of Turkey

Armenia is in the 38th position in the ranking of the best teams in the world by FIFA published June 5 Armenian selection was ranked 33rd last month, and plunges 5 postions. Result of his victory in a friendly match against the United Arab Emirates (4-3) and especially his defeat (1-3) against Algeria. Armenia faced yesterday that Germany ranked World No. 2. It was Spain who leads the FIFA rankings ahead of Germany and Brazil. France is 17th, Turkey 39th, the 96th and 83rd Azerbaijan Georgia.