Anzhi plead fans not to bury European dream
July 17th, 2012 - 8:42 pm ICT by IANSMoscow, July 17 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala have issued a plea to their supporters not to spoil their chances of staging European football at their home stadium in Dagestan.
The club, owned by billionaire Suleyman Kerimov, is appealing to UEFA to reconsider a decision not to allow Europa League games in the restive southern province over security concerns.
Anzhi were forced to find an alternative home stadium for Thursday’s second qualification round, first-leg match against FC Honved, and settled on an unused arena near Moscow.
The club insists only exemplary behaviour from the fans can help persuade European football’s governing body that Makhachkala would pose no threat to visiting teams and their fans.
“Anzhi’s management is doing everything it can to hold European tournament matches in Makhachkala,” a club statement said.
“Your exemplary behaviour on the stands will be an important factor to achieve that.”
“The atmosphere on the stands is a part of club policy and a factor by which Europe will judge the whole nation of Dagestan. Let’s display its best qualities - hospitality and mutual respect.”
Dagestan is one of Russia’s poorest regions, and is seen as a hotbed of terrorist activity and the origin of several deadly attacks over the last few years.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
sr/vt
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Tags: best qualities, billionaire, european dream, exemplary behaviour, governing body, honved, hotbed, july 17, kerimov, league games, makhachkala, match, moscow, mutual respect, plea, ria novosti, russian side, security concerns, southern province, terrorist activity