FFA president Armen Melikbekyan issued a statement, which said:
"Dear representatives of the football community, after the recent defeat of the national team of Armenia, a part of our team's fans demand the resignation of the FFA management, expressing dissatisfaction not only with the unsatisfactory results shown by our different age groups, but also with the activities of the federation in general. As one of the main beneficiaries of football , I fully understand and accept the right of the fans to express their displeasure and, I think, this reaction of mine, even if it does not dispel the doubts of people who are concerned about the future of Armenian football, will at least become a subject of discussion. people and not the opportunists who have never done anything for Armenian football, who are always hiding under the walls and are looking for an opportunity to show themselves at such moments, people who consider cursing to be the right of free speech, and who have made blackmail and negotiation a way of doing things.
In December 2019, I assumed the duties of the president of the Football Federation of Armenia with big dreams, hopes, confident faith in the future and undying optimism. All this is reflected in the program of the FFA 2019-2025. the first strategy in a first-of-its-kind document. Unfortunately, today it should be noted that some of the plans included in the strategy were not implemented, and some were partially implemented. These are facts, which, however, have serious objective and subjective reasons.
I will mention the main reasons that had a huge impact not only on football, but on Armenia and the whole world. Just 2 months after I was elected, the entire world was immobilized for a long time due to the coronavirus, and then the 44-day war began with its most severe consequences for our country. In 2022, the conflict in Ukraine began, which completely changed almost all world realities, making even the movement of teams a problem in the case of football. The change in the currency market also seriously affected financial stability, and during this period, Armenian football did not receive all the resources and expected revenues that would ensure the implementation of most of the strategic points.
But even under those conditions, we managed to make many fundamental changes in the panorama of Armenian football, the results of which we will reap over time. The football community is dissatisfied with the current situation. Believe me, I am mostly unhappy. Absence of sharp progress, stable game of national teams, construction of national stadium, realization of different kinds of dreams of all of us, is first of all my work and responsibility. I assure you that the Football Federation of Armenia has done everything possible, even impossible, to get good results. Unfortunately, it was not enough, and now we are again facing another cycle.
We didn't worry, because we worked honestly, kept fair conditions for everyone, implemented many big projects, which are necessary to have good football. It's just that some of our clubs tried to get privileges from the federation, advantages over other teams and failed, and became a strong opposition. : Some of our club owners feel, or at least they claim, that we train the youth team players and that they have no responsibility for youth football, when the reality is just the opposite. what do they know, but the results they showed indicate the exact opposite... This list can be continued, and the FFA leadership is definitely to blame in such a situation, because, for example, we have not completely managed to control the standards of youth football in clubs.
We also did not succeed in fully uniting people concerned about Armenian football. However, it is unfortunate that constructive criticism, which we have always discussed with our beneficiaries on various platforms and formats, is mixed with the voices of opportunists, people who only think about their own interests. There are such people in every country and field. It's just a pity that in our country they have mixed with real football fans. What is the solution? In recent years, the tradition of transparent and competitive FFA management has been formed in football. Otherwise, after every failure of the team, the managers will have to be changed, and then nothing will change. I understand the grievances of our football fans, but I don't accept the way of speaking with ultimatums. I am not and have never been attached to the chair of the president of the federation, but I have always prioritized the interest of football over personal interests. And I consider it necessary to complete the important initiatives started at this moment, which should become a reality in 2025 in the case of the necessary stability. First, Armenia and Georgia submitted a joint application for the holding of the final stage of the 2029 World Youth Championship. The holding of such a tournament will become a great stimulus for the development of football and other infrastructures in Armenia.
There may be many obstacles in this process, which we hope to overcome with the help of our international partners. We are close to the start of the National Stadium project in Armenia, which will become the most important project in Armenian football. At the UEFA and FIFA congresses in 2025, important decisions for Armenia must be made, as a result of which Armenia will finally be strengthened on the world football map. At this moment, no matter how tempting. Although the possibility of resigning and getting rid of this heavy burden, I am more concerned about what to do in the next important year, the readiness to finish unfinished business and the desire to form future plans and goals as a result of discussion. I sincerely hope that with the processes of the coming year, it will be possible to unite the entire mass of people concerned about Armenian football."
