Armenian team changes emblem before Turkey match

The new emblem of the Armenian national team was introduced to the public at a press conference in Yerevan on Wednesday. Speaking at the briefing Armenian Football Federation Chairman Ruben Hayrapetyan said the change of emblem was due to a demand to that effect from football fan associations, noting that the previous emblem was not popular among national team fans. An Armenian official in Yerevan told Today's Zaman that the emblem had been changed a month ago and that the new emblem will be used for the first time in the World Cup qualifying match against Turkey. He denied, however, any link between the change and the game against Turkey.

Although officials dismiss a connection between the new emblem and the upcoming match, the change is likely to be considered a good will gesture by the Armenian side. Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan invited his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gül, to watch the game in Yerevan. Gül has not said yet whether he would attend, but he is widely expected to accept the invitation.