Ruben Hayrapetyan: I'm obliged to assist all football clubs in Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - RA Football Federation President Ruben Hayrapetyan commented upon Ararat football club's statement that he failed to keep his promise to assist Armenian football clubs in European Cup matches and rejected half-back Romik Khachatryan and forward Alexander Petrosyan's claims for being admitted to the club's official staff.



"As President of Football Federation, I am obliged to assist all football clubs, but that doesn't mean I have to break the law. As regards claims, we declared names of potential participants during the championship last year. But in a meeting held before the championship this year, we took a unanimous decision not to accept football players' claims ahead of time. It's unjust to see the same football player represent a different team every other month. The UEFA representatives who recently arrived here explained to us clearly that such operations should be carried out via the transfer-window system. Beginning this year, football players can be transferred from one team to another only when the transfer window is open. Hereafter, transfers during championship should be carried out via FIFA," Mr. Hayrapetyan noted.



FFA President also said that President of Ararat football club Hrach Kaprielyan is not competent in football affairs, and his policy in the sphere can only hamper development of football in Armenia.



"Ararat puts down its failures to the Football Federation. What did the club do over the past 10 years to develop football in Armenia? Nothing. See how much Armenian football benefited by such football clubs as Mika, Banants, Ulis and Pyunik. Ararat does not even have a school for young football players. When coached, Ararat players act on behalf of other well-known clubs. It looks as though fans of different teams were playing football together. The whole problem is that people like Kaprielyan and Andreasyan seek to attain certain goals through blackmail. Ararat is our most reputable club, whereas its current leadership is trying to exploit the club's 'name' for some private interests. They have neither a sense of victory nor a sense of shame. They just give hollow promises."



Mr. Hayrapetyan expressed willingness to meet Ararat half-way, despite the club's attitude to Football Federation.



"I am nonetheless ready to meet Kaprielyan and Andreasyan half-way. If they want a separate body of umpires, they are welcome to invite such umpires from any part of the world at their own expense. I will allow such services. But I propose that Andreasyan's name be forgotten forever. We don't even know who coaches the club players. If they succeed in competitions, they will be coached by Andreasyan, if they don't, the prospects will be very dim. The more we speak about Andreasyan, the more his status will rise in people's estimation. But he is not a sober man. If it weren't for FFA, he would lead a battle against himself."