Who Should Dismiss the President of the Football Federation of Armenia?

In the fourth round of the group stage of the Nations League, following Armenia's loss to North Macedonia in Yerevan, the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA) dismissed the head coach of the national team, Alexander Petrakov. While it's true that the Ukrainian specialist bore some responsibility for the recent unsuccessful performances, the issue runs much deeper.

For years, based on the national team's failures, we have viewed the head coach's dismissal as the solution to the problem. However, some time after the coach's departure and the appointment of a new one, we find ourselves once again facing a broken bowl. Why? Because instead of taking concrete steps to address the issue, we are searching for scapegoats.

In addition to the national team, all other age group teams have also been failing in recent years, and the leadership of the FFA is to blame for all this. Realizing that the loss to North Macedonia would ignite a wave of protests among fans, the FFA, led by Armen Melikbekyan, opted for a simple and predictable solution. By making Petrakov a scapegoat, the FFA is once again trying to come out unscathed.

After yesterday’s match, the fans’ movement, First Front, organized a protest near the FFA demanding Melikbekyan’s resignation. In this situation, this may well be the only reasonable solution. Blaming Petrakov for the failures, Melikbekyan dismissed him. But who should dismiss the president of the FFA? The answer is simple: in the given situation, it is necessary to unite the football community to achieve positive changes in Armenian football.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has repeatedly spoken about the goal of winning medals in the European or World Championships by 2050. If the Armenian government is truly concerned about the fate of Armenian football, it should also participate in the process of making radical changes within the FFA.