"Football and sports must be separated from politics. Many say so, but unfortunately, many also violate this principle. Because there have been many attempts to politicize sports, to use sports as a political tool, to bring sports achievements to the political level," President Ilham Aliyev said while receiving the members of Qarabag football club.
"I have been the President of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan for 24 years. Over the years, I have repeatedly faced injustice in international competitions and the Olympic Games. The recent Olympic Games are no exception. Of course, we must not remain silent," he added.