“Armenian national team played as it could at the Turkey-Armenia qualifying match and the fact they lost does not mean they are less patriotic then their fans in front of TV,” Armenian Republican Party Spokesman Eduard Sharmazanov said at the press conference.

According to him, Armenian team had little chance to win, as football in Armenia is not as developed as in Turkey. “It is the same as to blame Brazilian hockey national team for being defeated to Canadian one,” he maintains. Sharmazanov does not sustain the opinion that Armenian “football diplomacy” lost once the national team was defeated.

Asked why RA President Serzh Sargsyan had expansive smile during the match, Sharmazanov slightly confused said, “The President smiled as the game was spectacular.”

The MP also condemned the throwing of stones at Armenian journalists saying that said there is lack of tolerance in Turkish society.

Turkey-Armenia qualifying match was in Bursa, October 14. Turkish national team scored 2:0. Presidents of the two states attended the match.