Diniev stands down in protest
Tuesday, April 23, 2002
Article summary
Shakhin Diniev has resigned as coach of Azerbaijani side FC Karabakh-Azersun.
Article body
Shakhin Diniev has resigned as coach of Azerbaijani side FC Karabakh-Azersun after yesterday's game with FC Shafa was abandoned at half-time.
President intervenes
Diniev handed in his notice after Rafael Ragimov, the Karabakh president, prohibited the team from continuing. He even went as far as ordering local police to bar the players from returning to the field of play as the protest against the policies of the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) gathered pace.
'Political games'
"We came out to play football," said Diniev, "not to be ordered around from above. If as coach I cannot make my team play then I am not staying at this club. Footballers are here to play football, not to be part of political games."
New caretaker
The club confirmed today that Sattar Aliev, a 37-year-old veteran defender, has taken over as caretaker coach.
