YEREVAN. - The 9-1 defeat has no explanation or justification. This is what MP Aren Mkrtchyan, a member of the parliament majority My Step" faction and member of the Executive Committee of the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA), told reporters in the National Assembly today, commenting on the Armenian national football squad’s aforesaid defeat in their Euro 2020 qualifying-round match against Italy.

"What has been happening in the FFA lately is unacceptable to us," Mkrtchyan said. "In the closed session of the executive committee, we have expressed our position on this issue."

Asked who is to blame for the 9-1 defeat, the MP said: “Naturally, the number one person accountable is the manager [of the Armenian squad]. But we have a situation when [manager] Abraham Khashmanyan is heading the team for only the second match. Everyone is to blame, and the number one person responsible is the president of the FFA [Artur Vanetsyan]. They have to give an explanation for the 9-1 defeat. This is the opinion of the members of the executive committee."

He added that in any case, a demand for the resignation of the FFA president is not on the agenda yet.