Azerbaijan Company’s Ad Won’t be Placed in Armenian Stadiums: Football Federation of Armenia

The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) billboards will not be placed in stadiums in Armenia during the 2016 UEFA European Championship's qualifying matches, said Football Federation of Armenia (FFA) President Ruben Hayrapetyan on Armenia TV's program Footboli Zhamy ("Live Football").

SOCAR is one of the official sponsors of Euro 2016, and, according to the agreement with UEFA, the state oil company has to place its ads in stadiums during the qualifiers, as well as air its commercials on television during those matches that are broadcast on television.

Hayrapetyan said that the FFA spoke with UEFA, which agreed to make an exception for stadiums in Armenia. "I don't know if [the ad] will be aired on television or not, but on the field, which I manage, there won't be that ad. I spoke with UEFA so that the Azerbaijani SOCAR won't be in Armenian stadiums. I think, the TV companies have to be mindful, as well, not to advertise the company, which purchases ammunition for a country that uses it against us," he said.