Azerbaijan struggle on

Azerbaijan, struggling to get their stalled league back on the track, have faced further problems ahead of their UEFA EURO 2004™ game against Yugoslavia.

Players retained
Azeri clubs have refused to allow their players to join the national team for this qualifying match, thus depriving head coach Asker Abdullayev of the services of few leading players. Arif Asadov, Adaim Niftaliyev, Aslan Kerimov and Vadim Vasilyev were all not released by their clubs.

Akhmedov defiant
However, Tarlan Akhmedov, who is Abdullayev's assistant coach as well as a player in the national side has defied the orders of his club, FC Karabakh-Azersun, and is going to play. “I cannot let Azerbaijan down," he said. "This team represents not only the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA), but the whole country. I think I was right it defying my club." Karabakh said the player would be heavily fined.

Frozen league
A year ago, the Azeri national team was mainly composed of domestic-based players, but with the domestic championship at a standstill and since April 2002, the coach has been forced to rely on foreign-based footballers, primarily those based in nearby Iran.

Abdullayev's problems
“I it very hard to work like that, when clubs do no allow their players to come and join the national team," said Abdullayev. "However, I can assure you of one thing – we will not return from Yugoslavia with shame. Those problems, I hope, will unite the team and make us more concentrated."

Domestic dispute
The clubs did not release their players because of their prolonged, bitter conflict with the AFFA, which they accuse of not working for good of Azeri football. The domestic championship was brought to a halt after the clubs refused to play in a league under the aegis of the AFFA.

Azerbaijan squad
Hasanzade, Mahommedov, Fizuli Mamedov, Agaev, Akhmedov, Ramiz Mamedov, Yadullayev, Sadygov, Emin Guliyev, Kamal Guliyev, Imamaliev, Huseynov, Musayev, Makhmud Gurbanov, Gurban Gurbanov, Ismaylov, Khagani Mamedov.