Champions FC Pyunik May Shut Down Due to Federation Actions: Another Scandal

Yesterday, sensational news was spread by Arthur Soghomonyan, the owner of one of Armenia's most reputable clubs, the reigning champion FC Pyunik of Yerevan. He announced that he is halting his football activities and putting the team up for sale. In his statement, the businessman accused the leadership of the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA) of pushing him to take this step. Besides being a public relations disaster for football and Armenia, this situation also demonstrates that the current government, represented by Nikol Pashinyan, is failing this sector as well. This was reported by the newspaper 'Zhoghovurd'.

“The FFA has become a business environment for the ruling party's members. The media has repeatedly reported that there are financial interests from Hakob Simidyan, Pashinyan's father-in-law Hrachya Hakobyan, deputy speaker of the National Assembly Ruben Rubinyan, and deputy mayor Armen Pambukhchyan, who has a reputation for corruption in Yerevan. Often, foreign trips related to the FFA also include MP Sisak Gabrielyan and others. There have been numerous publications in the media that, to put it mildly, have confirmed that these ruling party members are carrying out construction projects commissioned by the federation.

The latest instance was the power outage at the Abovyan stadium during the international match of the NOA club, and according to a journalistic investigation, the construction of that infrastructure was connected to the circle of Environmental Minister Hakob Simidyan. Not to mention that the sauna and swimming pool of the Football Academy have been used for gatherings of the ruling party, an issue that has been reported long ago.

Nikol Pashinyan continues to support Armen Melikbekyan, who has been elected with his backing, during whose tenure Armenian football is regressing. All age-level national teams are recording disgraceful results, while the national team suffers defeat after defeat, with rare victories regarded as exceptions. Meanwhile, Pashinyan claims that our national team will become medalists in a major tournament. Of course, it will, but not with such greed, unpatriotism, and unprofessional approach.

It should be reminded that under the current leadership of the FFA, FC Pyunik may become the next club “abandoned” from the top division, alongside Lori, Noravank, and Gandzasar (the latter returned this year due to pressure). It is also noteworthy that the owner of Sevan club moved and invested in Georgian football for a similar reason.

Sources from the newspaper 'Zhoghovurd' indicate that after the season ends, two more clubs will announce their exit from football due to actions by the FFA, and that number may increase. Club football in Armenia is not profitable, and it is sustained by the resources of businessmen; according to some reports, maintaining a team in Armenia ranges from 1 million to 7-8 million dollars annually. However, football is primarily about working with youth, entertainment for the broader society, and state prestige.

It is strange that fan clubs are not responding to the decline of football, while they were very 'active and patriotic' during Ruben Hayrapetyan's time,” the newspaper reported.