2024-07-05 20:23:53
On December 10, the president of the Football Federation of Armenia, Ruben Hayrapetyan, and the president of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mehdi Taj, signed a memorandum of understanding between the football federations of the two countries, which implies an increase in the level of football cooperation between the two countries and deepening of relations.
The press service of the FFA informs that before the signing of the memorandum, Ruben Hayrapetyan, the president of the Football Federation of Armenia, along with Mehdi Taj, the president of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the official representatives of the IIHFF, Seyed Kazim Sadjadi, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Republic of Armenia, and representatives of the embassy, visited the Football Academy of the FFA Technical Center. area, introducing guests to the infrastructure.
IIHFF President Mehdi Taj thanked the Armenian side for the warm welcome, noting that the signing of the memorandum will be a new impetus for the expansion of football cooperation between the two countries, including new areas.
The presidents of IIHFF and FFA also answered the journalists’ questions.
– Mr. Taj, what will the signing of this memorandum bring and especially in which areas do you see wider opportunities for cooperation?
– First of all, I want to thank the Football Federation of Armenia, the members of the Executive Committee and the representatives of the media who are present today. We already have such a memorandum with the Netherlands, South Korea and Japan. Now we signed a similar memorandum with Armenia. We have noted in which areas we will be mutually beneficial to each other. I myself am very positive about this memorandum because it is only an hour’s drive between our countries. Our national team has already held a training session here and everyone was very satisfied. We have decided to further develop these contacts.
– Futsal has become very popular in Iran in recent years. The team also achieved great success in the last World Championship. What is the secret of success?
– We have a population of 80 million, of which 10 million play futsal. To be honest, we are ready to cooperate with the Armenian side in every way in this field, we also have success in beach football and we are ready to share our experience with our Armenian partners.
– Armenians have always played a great role in various spheres of Iranian life. What is your opinion about the involvement of Armenians in Iranian football?
– Previously, we had 2 football players from Armenia in our championship: Armenak Petrosyan and Levon Stepanyan. At that time, I was the director of the club where they played and I selected those football players from Armenia. Petrosyan was Iran’s best player for 5 years and eventually became Iran’s most expensive player. Having said all this, I mean that the Armenian and Iranian football cooperation has a very old history.
– What is your opinion about football infrastructures of Armenia, which you have already seen?
– Mr. President said a little while ago that in addition to this excellent academy, two more are already operating, in Gyumri and Vanadzor, and it is planned to build an academy in Etchmiatsin. I can only congratulate the president and the members of the executive committee for creating such an infrastructure.
– Mr. Hayrapetyan, how important is the signing of this memorandum?
– As President Taj mentioned, we have been friendly nations for centuries. We have already had the experience of holding friendly matches at the level of national football and futsal teams. I believe that any such contact in terms of experience exchange will be mutually beneficial for the development of football and will have a positive result. Armenia and Iran are very close to each other. If we have to lose 4-5 hours to travel to European countries, it doesn’t take much time to reach Iran, which is very convenient.
– Mr. Hayrapetyan, was the cooperation at Iran’s suggestion or ours, and what specific steps will be taken in the direction of the development of beach football?
– The proposal was made by them, for which I am very grateful to the Football Federation of Iran. As for the development of beach soccer, you know that it is in zero state with us and it is our partners who can help us with their advice so that we can develop beach soccer.
Then, an official reception was held in honor of the guests from the Islamic Republic of Iran, the representatives of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Republic of Armenia, during which the presidents of FFA and IIHFF exchanged souvenirs.