Elkhan Mammadov refutes the Spanish press (UPDATED)

Baku/20.12.17/Turan: Secretary General of AFFA (Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan) Elkhan Mammadov denied reports of the Spanish press about the sponsorship of the Spanish Football Federation by Azerbaijan.

He praised the Spanish press as a "marketing move." "This is a marketing move, to increase interest. If we had so much money, then there would not be 8 clubs in the championship of Azerbaijan, but 14 clubs, "he told journalists. -0-

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2017 December 20 (Wednesday) 14:52:47

Azerbaijan can become the main sponsor of the Spanish Football Federation - media

Baku / 20.12.17 / Turan: The Spanish edition of "AS" stated that Azerbaijan can become the main sponsor of the Football Federation of Spain (RFEF). The publication reports that the contract, calculated for five years, will amount to 50 million euros, and will be the largest sponsorship deal in the history of the Spanish federation. It does not specify which organization from Azerbaijan was going to sign a sponsorship agreement. The deal was to be concluded last Saturday. RFEF representatives were forced to cancel their visit to Baku at the last moment.

The reason for this was the possible removal of the Spanish national team from the World Cup in 2018 in Russia. The fact is that the FIFA did not like the intervention of the Spanish government in the affairs of the national federation. President of the Federation Angel Maria Villar, who leads the organization since 1988, was elected to this post for the eighth time in May 2017. In June, he was arrested for corruption. The Sports Council of Spain proposed holding a new presidential election, which aroused dissatisfaction with the FIFA, which threatened with the suspension of the Spanish national team from the World Cup.

The publication "AS" writes that the condition of Baku for signing the agreement is confirmation by the FIFA of the participation of the Spanish national team in the championship. -71D-