SPORTSWORLD.AM
The representative of the Armenian national team, the First Armenian Front (FAF), made a post on his social media page referring to the UEFA Executive Committee elections to be held on April 9, where the President of the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA), Armen Khachik Melikbekyan, is also nominated.
The President's statement is below:
"Yesterday, March 26, Sergey Janjoyan, the leader of the "Armenian First Front" movement, posted on his Facebook page, in which he referred to their intentions to prevent me from becoming a member of the UEFA Executive Committee.
I believe that Janjoyan’s statement is nothing but a disgrace, because it is one thing when a group of fans demands the resignation of the FFA president, it is another thing when an application is submitted to hinder the attempt to have a representative in the governing body of a European structure and to represent Armenia with honor on international platforms. This is at least an anti-Armenian step that will damage the reputation of the state and is clearly directed against Armenian football. In fact, those with such intentions are trying to hinder Armenia’s ability to present itself as a sovereign state on the international stage.
In addition, Janjoyan, distorting reality, also makes personal insults and false and unfounded accusations, which will be responded to in accordance with the law.
It is quite clear to us where this latest "spontaneous" statement comes from. This is a continuation of similar actions and statements made by the same people on other platforms. I would like to remind these people at this time that all their previous attempts have simply failed.
We will not allow people with such anti-state practices to hinder a process from which only Armenian football will benefit, and we will do everything possible to rid football of such people.
My nomination to the UEFA Executive Committee is not an end in itself, but a logical continuation of my and the FFA representatives' activities in UEFA in recent years. During the pre-election campaign, I presented my vision for the development of European football to the UEFA member federations, namely, to preserve and develop the European sports model in football, and I consider this especially important for medium and small countries, including Armenia.
Armen Melikbekyan's words are quoted by the official website of the Armenian Football Federation.
FAF representative's post below:
"In about a week, on April 3, elections for UEFA's executive committee members will take place in Belgrade, with associations from 55 UEFA member countries participating."
There are currently 11 candidates for 7 seats, for a 4-year term. Among the 11 candidates is the infamous president of our federation.
Candidates must be the president, vice president, or general secretary of the country's federation. In the event that the country's federation president is not elected or resigns, they may retain their place on the executive committee, unless the next president withdraws.
The salary of a UEFA executive committee member is around 197,000 euros per year, with a daily allowance of 200 euros.
It seems that if he managed to become a candidate, he will easily appear among 7 out of 11, but that's only at first glance. When you study the other candidates, which include world-famous football players, referees, leaders of football superpowers, some of whom are even current members, and Armen Melikbekyan, it becomes clear that everything will not be that easy.
Having someone on the UEFA executive committee is of course good - certain opportunities may open up, new programs for Armenia, financial involvement, but it is unbelievable that this lying, incompetent person, who has always insisted on not being clinging to his seat and has not been able to fulfill even a small part of his promises, will do that. In other words, he has not “made a mess” of his actions in Armenia, and he has also brought European football to mind, which is something for us. We have been loyal on this issue and have not speculated on this issue in the context of demanding his resignation.
Now that all boundaries have been crossed, if this person does not clearly inform about the terms of his resignation in the near future, we may take an extreme step - initiate a process to abort the process of his appearance on the UEFA Executive Committee, because there is a fear and signals coming that big headlines will appear, lobbying will be initiated, that this is a very big, important role, that he must remain in the FFA, whether he likes it or not, that is an honor for the country, etc.
1. Send all voting associations a detailed description of his activities in the FFA, all failed projects, the current state of the FFA he leads, the financial dishonesty, the collapse, the toothlessness of the executive committee.
2. Members of the movement living in Europe will initiate meetings with the associations of the given country and, at a possible meeting with the representative of the federation of the given country, will provide complete information about the lying, failed figure.
3. On April 3, ahead of and during the vote, an anti-Melikbek rally will be held in Belgrade by members of the movement abroad.
"In the event of leaving the FFA, we are definitely in favor of Melikbekyan appearing on the UEFA Executive Committee and Melikbekyan's connection with the next FFA president through some bridge, but the mask should be removed from the padokh one day in advance."