Former Armenian national team footballer Aras Ozbilis has publicly called for the resignation of the President of the Armenian Football Federation (AFF), Armen Melikbekyan In his statement, Ozbilis expressed concerns about the state of Armenian football and the actions of the AFF leadership, especially ahead of the UEFA Executive Committee elections, scheduled for April 3 in Belgrade.
Crisis in Armenian Football
According to Ozbilis, Armenian football is in deep crisis, as demonstrated by the national team’s recent defeat against Georgia. He believes that after such a loss, the AFF leadership should have taken responsibility and proposed concrete solutions. Instead, they continue to avoid criticism and distract the public.
"Recent events have once again shown how deep the crisis in Armenian football is. After the crushing defeat against Georgia, the leadership should have taken responsibility and offered real solutions," Ozbilis stated.
Reasons for Demanding Resignation
Fans and football experts have long been calling for Armen Melikbekyan’s resignation. Ozbilis argues that this demand stems from the unprecedented decline of Armenian football and the loss of trust in the federation’s leadership.
"Youth football is being neglected. The national team, which has inspired us for years, is now in a hopeless state," the former footballer stated.
However, instead of addressing these issues, Ozbilis believes that the AFF president is focused on securing a position in the UEFA Executive Committee—an ambition that, in his view, serves only Melikbekyan’s personal interests rather than the development of Armenian football.
Accusations of Politicizing the Issue
In response to calls for his resignation, Melikbekyan claimed that such demands "undermine Armenia’s sovereignty." Ozbilis strongly disagrees with this statement, calling it an attempt to divert attention from leadership failures.
"This demand has nothing to do with politics—it is solely about football. His failure is not a personal attack but a fact proven by results," Ozbilis emphasized.
A Call for Change
In his statement, Ozbilis stressed that true leadership is measured by results. If there are none, the only solution is to acknowledge mistakes and step down. He emphasized that football is not a political position but a tool for developing young players and strengthening the country’s sporting reputation.
"If Melikbekyan truly cares about Armenian football, he should admit his mistakes, resign, and allow new leadership to take responsibility," Ozbilis added.
In his opinion, change is inevitable, as both Armenian football and its supporters deserve better. He urged officials not to place personal ambitions above the interests of the country and the football community.
"In the end, it is wrong to gamble with the country’s reputation. Your actions are harming both football and the nation," Ozbilis concluded.