FIFA AND UEFA OFFICIALS VISIT AZERBAIJAN
They were informed here that the Fund founded in honor of national leader of Azerbaijan, late President Heydar Aliyev, is aimed at study of his rich heritage, supporting realization of the large-scale economic projects to lead Azerbaijan to progress and promoting culture and history of the country.
The guests also viewed a plenty of photos reflecting different moments in Heydar Aliyev’s life and giving an idea of the whole period of the Azerbaijan’s history. Mr. Josef Blatter left a record in the Fund’s Guestbook.
The delegation also visited the Alley of Martyrs to revere the memory of shehids, who gave their lives for independence and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and laid a wreath at the memorial “Eternal Fire”.
The FIFA president and accompanied delegation participated in the opening of football ground for children built in Icheri Sheher /Inner City/ with FIFA funds in line with the organization’s “hat-trick” program. 30 such stadiums will be built in the country - 15 in Baku and the rest in different regions of the country.
The guests also attended the ceremony of laying foundation for the new office of the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan /AFFA/ - FIFA set aside 400 thousand Swiss franks for this project.
A monument to late famous Azerbaijani referee Tofig Bahramov has been opened today at Republican Stadium named after him. During the ceremony, president of AFFA Ramiz Mirzayev told of the life of this legendary man who made his homeland world’s famous. On behalf of the President of Azerbaijan, President of the National Olympic Committee Ilham Aliyev, Minister of Youth, Sport and Tourism Abulfaz Garayev congratulated the audience on this occasion. Also speaking at the ceremony was England’s former player Horst whose disputed goal was decided by Tofik Bahramov in favor of England in the 1966 World Cup finals against Germany.
After the ceremony, FIFA president Josef Blatter laid a wreath at the monument.
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