Nine players of Armenia's football team: Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Yura Movsisyan, Robert Arzumanyan, Marcos Piselli, Gevorg Ghazaryan, Gevorg Kasparov, Hrayr Mkoyan, and Karlen Mkrtchyan, have refuted the recent accusations by Ruben Hayrapetyan, President of the Football Federation of Armenia.
Earlier Hayrapetyan openly slammed the national football team players for betrayal. Albania vs. Armenia match ended in victory of Albania "due to betrayal by some Armenian football players," he said.
"Comments and rumors around the match vs. Albania are groundless, given our absolute confidence in every player in our team. We are sure that there are no betrayers in our team. All our players think so. All these years we have been playing selflessly doing our best for the team. We have never refused to play. With traumas, taking pain-relieving medicines, we played at the request of our coaches understanding that our absence will affect our team. All our players are a family," the statement reads.
To recall, on October 11, Albania was qualified for Euro 2016, their first major tournament, after a 3-0 away win over Armenia clinched second place in Group I. After the game, some Albanian and Serbian media reported that Albania bought four players of the Armenian team by EUR500,000 each.
It was reported earlier that UEFA will not inquire into the given match. Goalkeeper of the Armenian team Gevorg Kasparov categorically refutes the possibility of bribing the Armenian players. Football fans have repeatedly token the street recently demanding a more competent coach.