On the eve of the new season, FC Noah has issued an official open letter to the leadership and responsible officials of the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA). The club is demanding a fundamental shift in approaches regarding refereeing, match organization, and disciplinary matters.
Throughout the previous season, the team repeatedly raised concerns regarding refereeing bias and inconsistency in the application of rules. The club maintains that objectivity has often been absent from officiating decisions.
One notable fact is that during the last season, whenever foreign referees officiated matches involving Noah, the team recorded strong results (significant victories and draws), and in two of those games, the team did not receive a single yellow card, which was an exception to the overall pattern of the season. According to the club, this proves that the issue is truly serious, yet there remains confidence that local referees are also capable of performing at an equally high level.
Expectations for change at the federation The letter emphasizes that recent personnel and structural changes at the FFA—following the resignation of the vice president and the announcement that president Armen Melikbekyan will not run in the upcoming elections—create a new opportunity. Noah hopes that during this phase, it will be possible to foster an atmosphere of independence, fair competition, and mutual trust in Armenian football.
Main demands and objectives The club clarifies that they are not asking for privileges or special treatment. The fundamental principle is singular: equal and predictable conditions for all clubs.
Referencing the successful start of the four Armenian clubs in European tournaments, Noah notes that a strong and fair domestic league is the bedrock of any international success and the backbone of the national team.
In closing, the club reminds the federation of a simple truth: "Justice is not a request or a privilege. It is the fundamental obligation of every tournament organizer."
