Football for peace in Bursa
Thursday, October 15, 2009
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UEFA President Michel Platini attended Wednesday night's FIFA World Cup qualifier between Turkey and Armenia in Bursa – a match which had great historical significance for the two countries.
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UEFA President Michel Platini attended last night's FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Turkey and Armenia in Bursa – a game which had great historical significance for the two countries.
Two countries' accord
The Group 5 match followed the weekend's accord signed in Switzerland between Turkey and Armenia normalising relations and establishing diplomatic ties. Mr Platini watched the match together with the President of Turkey, Abdullah Gül, and the President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan. They were accompanied by the UEFA first vice-president Senes Erzik, the President of the Turkish Football Association, Mahmut Özgener, and the President of the Football Federation of Armenia, Ruben Hayrapetyan.
Crowning moment
The match on Wednesday was a crowning moment in the process of sporting fraternisation which saw the presidents of the two countries attend the FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Armenia and Turkey in Yerevan in September 2008. A handshake between the two presidents at that match was seen as a historic moment showing that sport is an important instrument in bringing people together.