By David Gold
October 20 – The Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe (FAUE) has asked UEFA President Michel Platini for the crucial European Championship qualifier between the Republic of Ireland and Armenia to be replayed after the Irish controversially won their encounter in Dublin earlier this month.
The game was crucial as whoever won would claim a place in the play offs for next year’s tournament, being held in Ukraine and Poland.
The Republic claimed a 2-1 victory, but it came in controversial circumstances as the Armenians had their goalkeeper sent-off early on, and they now face Estonia in the play=offs.
Roman Berezovsky was judged to have handled the ball when he came out of his penalty area to try and block a shot from Simon Cox, though replays show that the ball did not hit his hands.
Conversely, it seemed that Cox himself had handled the ball, and the incident brought back memories of Ireland’s controversial defeat to France in the 2010 World Cup qualifying play off, where Thierry Henry handled the ball whilst setting up the goal which gave the French victory.
The Republic had appealed to FIFA for a replay of their game with France that time, and with this in mind the Armenians have asked for this game to be contested again.
Ashot Grigoryan, the President of Slovakia’s Armenian community, joined the FAUE in penning a letter to Platini which reads: “During the qualification match for Euro 2012 between Ireland and Armenia held on 11 October 2011 in Dublin the referee Iturralde Gonzalez made appalling errors of judgment that affected the outcome of the match, leaving the Armenian fans deeply disheartened.”
“The President of the Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe acting on behalf of the European Armenian Diaspora, writes to you with the demand that the referee’s errors in this match be condemned and the match replayed.
“This is the only acceptable solution in these circumstances both to Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora worldwide.
“We note that fairness and sound principles displayed by the UEFA management during your office as President left a valuable legacy and it is with reference to these that we hope justice can be restored in this instance.”
The Armenian Football Association has already appealed to UEFA to overturn the red carded handed to Berezovsky.
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