Blatter: Gaddafi offered to scatter 2010 Cup over 53 African countriesMarch 15, 2013 - 16:57 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Sepp Blatter, president of soccer's world governing body FIFA, has criticized the proposed format set to be used at Euro 2020 and says the scattering of the tournament over 13 countries will not make it a true European championship, the 77-year-old Swiss said. "A tournament belongs to a country, across which is created an identity and state of euphoria. The 2020 tournament has been dispersed and it is no longer a true European championship," AFP quoted him as saying. Blatter also pointed out that the idea was not a new one and was in fact initially proposed by slain Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for the organization of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. "Colonel Gaddafi told me that a match should be held in each of the 53 African countries," Blatter said. "I told him, it was unthinkable." Top stories Armenian gymnast, Olympic bronze medalist Artur Davtyan has reached the finals of the World Cup. Gor Manvelyan has denied reports alleging that he has expressed a desire to one day play for the French national team. Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not considering FC Spartak Moscow as his next haven, according to fresh reports. 10 Armenian lifters will compete in the 2021 World Championships scheduled to be held from 7 to 17 December in Tashkent. Partner news | Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. Armenia: Rescue workers restore pedestrian bridge for flood-hit community Rescue workers on Wednesday, June 5 restored a pedestrian bridge in the town of Alaverdi in Armenia’s north. U.S. “deeply troubled” by Azerbaijan's arrest of civil society members The United States is deeply troubled by the continued arrest of members of Azerbaijani civil society, Matthew Miller has said. Turkey condemns Uruguay’s recognition of Armenian Genocide Turkey has condemned a newly passed law in Uruguay that recognizes the Armenian Genocide, TRT reports. |