Hot Chip - Don't Deny Your Heart... in football

...and then people wonder why I love football ;))



*Via Towleroad: Male Footballers Can't Deny Their Lust for One Another in Hot Chip's New Video: WATCH

Anatomy of violence, or Armenia MP (president of Football Federation) Ruben Hayrapetyan slaughterhouse

Military doctor severely beaten by bodyguards of Armenia MP, president of Football Federation Ruben Hayrapetyan (aka 'Nemets Rubo') has died on 29 June. [For background to this story, read: Unbearable cruelty of being of Armenia tycoon - turned MP - turned Football Federation president & his entourage]



Video above details some of the 'heroic' pages from the history of violence of disgraced Armenia MP, president of Football Federation, oligarch Ruben Hayrapetyan, nicknamed 'Nemets Rubo'.

Posting this video, Hetq Online reminds how 'Nemets Rubo' threatened and/or enacted violence towards journalists, drug addicts, and (more recently) gays. The author righty points out that after all the violent rhetoric and actions, there should be no surprise that we witnessed yet another violence, this time with more tragic consequences. [Ռուբեն Հայրապետյանը միշտ զգուշացրել է (վիդեո)]

To remind, following recent firebombing of gay friendly bar DIY in Yerevan, ‘Nemets Rubo‘ said he “condemns terrorism” but “in favour of punishing gays and ready to do it myself”. “We should think of another way of punishing to eradicate them from our society.”

Other high profile MPs from ruling Republican party who supported firebombers and encouraged anti-gay violence include vice-speaker of the Armenian parliament, spokesman of the ruling Republican party Eduard Sharmazanov, and MP, (now) secretary of Republican party parliamentary group Hovhannes Sahakyan. 
[I recommend reading Հոդված ատելության մասին by Sergey Danielyan too]

Last night, there was a candlelight vigil in Yerevan in memory of beating victim Vahe Avetyan. People gathered in front of the restaurant where the violence took place [Harsnaqar restaurant belongs to 'Nemets Rubo'] Many held 'I am Vahe Avetyan' posters condemning violence, calling for boycott of oligarch MP businesses and his resignation as MP and president of Football Federation.

Among protesters rightly condemning violence, I noticed two well known personalities who have their share of moral responsibility for this atmosphere of hatred and violence.

Armenian MP from the ARF Dashnaktsutyun party Armen Rostomyan said nothing when his colleagues from the ARF party, and in particular Artsvik Minasyan, Hrayr Karapetyan and Artur Aghabekyan supported firebombers and at least in case of Artsvik Minasyan (+ here) and Artur Aghabekyan openly encouraged anti-gay violence.

Larisa Alaverdyan, former MP and ex-Ombudsman, effectively sided with homophobes during TV programme discussing attacks towards gay friendly bar and Diversity march.




Below are two pictures from the candlelight vigil protest action via CivilNet and PanArmenian FB page.

*picture via CivilNet/Seda Grigoryan

*"Slaughterhouse" written on the wall of Harsnaqar restaurant, picture via PanArmenian/Hrant Khachatryan [Հանցաքար" և "Սպանդանոց" գրվեցին ռեստորանի պատերին]

Armenia Football Federation president Ruben Hayrapetyan ‘against terrorism’ but ‘ready to punish gays and eradicate from society’

Homophobic hysteria in Armenia continues. Now president of Football Federation, MP of the ruling Republican party Ruben Hayrapetyan, reflecting firebombing of DIY bar, says he “condemns terrorism” but “in favour of punishing gays and ready to do it myself”. “We should think of another way of punishing to eradicate them from our society.” Someone on Facebook proposed new nickname for him - ‘fascist Rubo’.

Այսօր Aravot.am-ը ՀՖՖ նախագահ, ԱԺ պատգամավոր Ռուբեն Հայրապետյանից հետաքրքրվեց, թե DIY ակումբը պայթեցնելու դեպքի մասին ի՞նչ կարծիք ունի եւ ինքը պայթեցնողների՞ կողմնակիցն է, թե՞ ակումբի պաշտպանների: Նա պատասխանեց. «Նախ, ցանկացած ժամանակ տեռորը դատապարտված է իմ կողմից եւ վատ բան է: Իհարկե, դեմ եմ պայթեցնելուն, բայց միասեռականներին պատժելուն ես երկու ձեռով եմ կողմ եւ պատրաստ եմ նույնիսկ անել դա»:   

Պարոն Հայրապետյանը չի ընդունում ակումբը պայթեցնելու միջոցով միասեռականներին եւ լեսբուհիներին պատժելու տարբերակը: Նրա խոսքերով՝ «Դա պատժելու ձեւ չի: Ավելի ուրիշ ձեւ պետք է մտածել՝ նրանց այս հասարակությունից ուղղակի վերացնել: Դրանց դեմ ամեն ձեւ էլ կարելի է պայքարել՝ բացի տրաքացնելուց ու պայթեցնելուց»: 

Երեւանում բազմազանության երթ, որը շատերը «գեյ շքերթ» են համարել, անցկացնելու մասին տեղեկությանը Ռուբեն Հայրապետյանի սիրտը չդիմացավ: Նա բռնեց սիրտն ու ասաց. «Խնդրում եմ ես ձեզ, նենց բաներ եք ասում, որ ես վատանում եմ: Ես այս երկիրն ու ժողովրդին շա՜տ եմ սիրում, վախեցա»: 

(Football) kiss of the day

Don't you just like these French football players?! ;))



*via Têtu

Ridiculous being of Iranian regime: latest targets - football and male haircut

*Mohammad Nosrati (via Daily Mail)

*Sheys Rezaei (via Daily Mail)

This pair of Iranian footballers got suspended for lengthy periods and fined heavily for ‘immoral’ goal celebration. There were even suggestions that they may face lashes.

Two leading Iranian football players face floggings for celebrating goals in a manner the regime deems immoral.

Mohammed Nosrati appeared to place his hand on the buttocks of Sheys Rezaei as members of the Persepolis team, based in Tehran, jumped on each other to celebrate the winning goal in their 3-2 victory over rivals Damash last Saturday. Earlier in the game, which was watched by millions of Iranians on live television, Rezaei appeared to touch the bottom of another teammate, Alireza Noormohammadi, though he insists he was just trying to tickle him.

The Iranian football federation swiftly suspended both players and fined them nearly $40,000 (£25,000) each. But a Tehran judge, Valiallah Hosseini, has now suggested that they should be imprisoned and lashed as well.

“The two players should definitely be charged and sentenced according to Islamic punishment to two months prison and 74 lashes,” he said. Describing their behaviour as a “breach of public chastity”, he continued: “Even if a husband and wife conduct themselves inappropriately in public they are punishable (but) the two players have behaved like this in front of thousands in the stadium and television cameras.” [...] (The Times)

As per latest news, at least one of the players is reportedly seeking his career abroad.

While Nosrati is still under contract with Persepolis, Rezaei was released by the club. The former Persepolis captain, who had repeatedly violated the disciplinary code of the club in the past, reportedly is seeking his luck abroad now.

I’d say, ban football altogether. It’s sooo homoerotic.

But there is more to ridiculous being of Iranian regime.

Recent reports by Amnesty brought to our attention the issue of ‘legal male haircuts’. Apparently, there are only limited number of male haircuts that are ‘approved by state’ in Iran.

The Iranian government dictates which haircuts are acceptable for its citizens. This week's clip from Amnesty TV looks at which styles are approved by the state. The Simon Cowell, the lesser Simon Cowell and the Elvis are pretty safe. But don't even think of trying a mullet or ponytail. (watch the video on The Guardian)

Sweet and cute! ;)) - Armenia national football team: THE picture, THE tweet

To learn more re the occasion and for more details, see Unzipped

Picture of the Day

*picture - by PanARMENIAN Photo

Tweet of the Day (AM):

Աղջիկ լինեի, կամ գեյ, էսօր մեր սաղ թիմին կտայի
@8731 

Relevant: 'Football is gay' - even according to Armenian media ;)

Manchester United: “Kiss of Life”

Don't you just love football?! ;)

*via Towleroad: "Manchester United captain Gary Neville planted a kiss on teammate Paul Scholes after Scholes scored the winning (and only) goal against Manchester City just 20 seconds before the end of the match-up."

***
And now this hilarious commentary and headlines via British press (via Queerty).

The Independent: Eternal Scholes gives United kiss of life

You could interpret in various ways the tender moment when Gary Neville wrapped his hands around the head of Paul Scholes and pursed his lips.

He was about to drive several coaches through the homophobic fortress of the Premier League. This was the take of the whimsical Kirsty Young, who told the Andrew Marr Show that it might have been a clip from Brokeback Mountain.

On the other hand Neville, who is of course not famous for striking the most agreeable notes, may have been emphasising a line of praise time-honoured among hard, macho but understating pros, the one that goes: "You'll do for me, son." [...]

The Guardian: When men's lips meet. By kissing Paul Scholes, Gary Neville declared war on homophobia. And Francophobia, too

He broke my heart too ;)

¿Por qué?

Sunday Spain-Armenia match was an inspiration not only to football fans but also quite an event for young female population of Yerevan. Spanish football goalkeeper Iker Casillas broke at least one Armenian heart by not appearing on the pitch.

*Source: ArmeniaNow

Football, football...

*I specifically devote this post to Armenian football fans. I know you will love this ;)

'Gay Ataturk': a year without YouTube for Turkey

Reporters Without Borders marks one year anniversary of blocking the access to YouTube in Turkey.

Reporters Without Borders condemns the fact the video-sharing website YouTube has been inaccessible in Turkey for the past 12 months. Access has not been restored since it was blocked exactly one year ago today as a result of three orders issued by Ankara magistrate courts without any specific reason being given.

UK based The Register provides further details:

"The clip believed to have originally sparked the YouTube controversy in 2007 was a parody news broadcast by Greek football fans taunting their Turkish rivals by declaring "Today's news; Kemal Ataturk was gay!"

Turkish law lets prosecutors seek a court-ordered shutdown of any website deemed liable to incite suicide, paedophilia, drug usage, obscenity, prostitution, or attacking the memory of the republic's founding father.

Critics note the law opens the door to many abuses — such as letting a couple soccer fans effectively shut down an entire country's access to the world's most popular video-sharing website.

After the offending video was taken down by Google and YouTube users, Turkish prosecutors objected to dozens of other videos allegedly insulting Ataturk or other Turkish sensibilities. The latest barring was the result of three Ankara magistrate court orders on the grounds that Google hadn't obtained a license from the Turkish authorities."

The Register then goes on by listing countries which have barred YouTube, mentioning Armenia too: "Turkey is just one of several countries to have barred YouTube, including China, Armenia, Morocco, Pakistan, Thailand, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Saudia Arabia, and Syria."

I have to clarify here that the Armenian authorities have blocked the access to YouTube, along with some other websites, for a short period of few days only during the declared state of emergency following last year falsified presidential election. Before that and since then there have been no other incidents of Internet censorship in Armenia.

Armenian footballer to Estonian football chief: “Let’s have sex”, well, sort of…

In the run up to today’s World Cup qualifying game between Estonia and Armenia in Tallinn, there was an incident, when Estonian side did not allow Armenian team to train on the main stadium field where the game will take place, citing “technical reasons”. Reportedly, this caused an emotional reaction from the Armenian side. Here is what Estonian Football Association (EJL) president Aivar Pohlak had to say today:

“One of Armenian footballers expressed his desire to have a sexual intercourse with me.”

(“Իսկ հայ ֆուտբոլիստներից մեկը ցանկություն հայտնեց ինձ հետ սեռական հարաբերություն ունենալ”)

I can imagine what was actually said by an Armenian footballer, if this is true. It must have been an Armenian version of “f*ck you”, but it's amusing to see the way it was ‘politely’ put by an Estonian football chief. Could’t stop laughing :)

*photo - via Postimees

'Football is gay' - even according to Armenian media ;)

That ‘football is gay’ is not news for gay blogs and web sites. ‘Gay moments’ in football caught by photographers are being widely posted there (example above). They are pretty entertaining, and at times – pretty hot too.

It is, however, unusual and lovely to see Armenian Aravot daily publishing a series of such photos under pretty revealing heading “Sex at football” ;). Check out Aravot here. Do not forget reading sub-headings to each picture. You would be amused ;)

Entropa

Poland
Poland is represented by a group of Catholic monks erecting the rainbow flag of the gay community.

Netherlands
The Netherlands is seen as series of minarets submerged by a flood - a possible reference to the nation's simmering religious tensions.

Italy
Italy is seen as a massive football pitch, suggesting a nation with a fetish for football.

*More pictures... (source - BBC)

BBC reports: A new art installation going on display at the European Council building in Brussels has angered EU members with its lampoons of national stereotypes.

Entropa portrays Bulgaria as a toilet, Romania as a Dracula theme-park and France as a country on strike.

The Czech Republic, which holds the EU presidency, thought it had commissioned work from 27 European artists.

But it turned out to have been entirely completed by Czech artist David Cerny and two associates. [...]

Mr Cerny, who presented Entropa to his government with a brochure describing each of the artwork's 27 supposed contributors from each member state, has apologised for misleading ministers, but not for the installation itself.

"We knew the truth would come out," said Mr Cerny. "But before that we wanted to find out if Europe is able to laugh at itself."

He added that Entropa "lampoons the socially activist art that balances on the verge between would-be controversial attacks on national character and undisturbing decoration of an official space".

Mr Cerny first created a splash in the early 1990s when he painted a Soviet tank, a Second World War memorial in a Prague square, bright pink.


*source of picture: Radio Prague

Buenos Aires: To Do travel

Buenos Aires is on my To Do travel list of places to visit. There are number of reasons for that. This brief report by The Economist provides some of them. Despite complaints that gay scene in Buenos Aires became "too mainstream", and financial crisis affects gay tourists too, capital of Argentina seems to me a fascinating place to go. I definitely wanna try one of those tango classes. As they say, "it takes two men to tango" ;)

"[...] Tourism officials reckon that at least a fifth of foreign visitors to the city are homosexuals.

In recent years, Buenos Aires has hosted a gay tourism symposium, a gay football tournament, a gay film festival and the first gay cruise in South American waters; it is now home to a gay hotel, a gay bookstore, and a network of stores providing discounts to customers wielding a “gay-friendly Buenos Aires” card. The influx of so-called “pink money” has become a pillar of the city’s economy. Gay tourists, most of whom are affluent and childless, spend on average around $250 a day on top of their hotel bill.

The city’s combination of European architectural elegance and Latin American flair at knock-down prices has attracted tourists of all sexual orientations. But unlike many other Latin American cities, Buenos Aires has established a reputation as being open and tolerant in a region where homophobia remains prevalent. It has been a regional leader in expanding gay rights.

The city council has approved a law authorising same-sex civil unions, and taken other measures that provide for benefits to pass to surviving partners in such unions and to require hospitals to refer to transgender patients by their chosen rather than legal names. And its array of gay-themed or gay-friendly venues comfortably eclipses the offerings in other Latin American capitals. [...]"

*photo - by AFP, via The Economist

Ex-Chelsea player says he knows 12 top current footballers who are gay but reluctant to come out

Former professional footballer Paul Elliott said he knows 12 top current players who are gay. He said they are reluctant to come out because they fear negative reactions.

Mr Elliott, who now advises the Equality and Human Rights Commission, was speaking at 'Homophobia – Football's Final Taboo' – a forum organised by the Kick It Out campaign and hosted by the Football Association at its Soho Square headquarters last night (16 October 2008).

BBC sports reporter and commentator, Bob Ballard, who chaired the event, criticised the Football Association (FA) and Chelsea for allowing the appointment of Phil Scolari as Chelsea manager. Mr Scolari said he would never have a gay player on his team, which is against the FA's equal treatment rules.

Accusing the FA of double standards, Mr Ballard said that if Scolari had said he would kick out black or Jewish players he would have never been appointed at Chelsea.

Another speaker, gay human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, said: "The Football Association has great equality policies on paper but it often fails to put them into practice. It's time to turn the FA's opposition to anti-gay prejudice into action and give homophobia the boot."

Mr Tatchell outlined a four-point plan of action that he wants the Football Association to adopt.

*Information is provided by Peter Tatchell.

Picture of The Day: Frank Lampard

Frank Lampard is one of my favourite (and sexy) footballers from London's Chelsea. Love this pic (source).

Last year England captain John Terry told the club's TV station that he reckons that Frank Lampard is the best looking player on the team:

"The girls like him a little bit. If I was that way I’d see something in him,” he said.

Back then PinkNews blog commented on Terry's remarks:

"Ahh how times have changed.

Ten, maybe even five years ago, if you had asked a footballer which one of their team mates they think is hot you would have got a punch in the nose.

But those metrosexual Chelsea stars have no such qualms."

Argentine team beats British side to win Gay World Cup

*An Argentina's Dogos player (C) and an England's London Stonewall player (L) react at the end of the final match of IGLFA Football World Cup 2007 in Buenos Aires, on 29 September. Argentina's Dogos won the match by 1-0 and the championship. © 2007 AFP - Juan Mabromata

BUENOS AIRES (AFP) — Argentina's Los Dogos captured the gay football World Cup Saturday, defeating British title-holders Stonewall 1-0 in Buenos Aires in the first final held in Latin America.

The two teams were among 28 squads from Europe, the Americas and Australia that participated in the 10th gay football world championship aimed at highlighting the fight against homophobia and discrimination.

With their victory, Los Dogos, named after an Argentine dog breed, automatically qualified for the 2008 tournament hosted by London.

"The people supported us and I hope it's always like this," said Dogos coach Nestor Gammella, 51, after the final held at the Defensores de Belgrano stadium. "We beat the world champions and we are happy."

It was the first time Latin American teams played in the tournament organized by the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA), with squads from Mexico, Chile and Uruguay.

IGFLA president Tomas Gomez said Buenos Aires was chosen to host the cup this year for its "respect and social acceptance of the gay community."

Buenos Aires is increasingly seen as a gay-friendly city. In 2002, the city's government approved gay and lesbian civil unions.

Gay World Cup 2007

*International Gay and Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA)

The opening ceremony for this week-long event, supported by FIFA, local and state authorities, will take place on 23 September 2007, in Buenos Aires (Argentina). It is the first time in the tournament's 16-year history that Latin American country has hosted the World Championship of gay and lesbian fooball teams. The choice of Argentina is not a random one. Besides brilliant football traditions, it is the only Latin American country where same-sex civil partnerships (aka marriage) are permitted.

Reuters reports that "twenty-eight teams, many representing cities in Europe, the United States, Australia and Latin America, as opposed to countries, will play in the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association's competition."

"If gay-lesbian soccer exists it's because gays and lesbians can't play the sport without suffering discrimination," said Cesar Cigliutti, president of the Argentine Homosexual Community gay advocacy group. "The sports world is very homophobic, very discriminatory and soccer is a prime example... That's exactly why these championships were born," he said.

London will host the 2008 IGLFA World Championship (24-30 August).

No reports on Armenian participation... as yet.

UEFA: Albania coach fined for his homophobic comments

UEFA is sending long overdue signal that it will not tolerate homophobia in football.

Back in 2004, then Croatia national coach Otto Baric, who currently manages Albania national team, said he could never work with a side that includes a gay player, because he felt it was wrong:

"There is no place for homosexuals in my team. Homosexuality is not good,” he said in an interview to local Croatian press.

Gay football fans (and not only) and human rights activists were outraged and demanded Baric to face an inquiry over his comments.

From UEFA press release:

30 July 2007

Albania coach Otto Barić has been fined €1,825 (CHF 3,000) by the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Committee for discriminatory remarks made in a 2004 newspaper interview.

Newspaper interview
The committee heard that Barić gave the interview to a Croatian newspaper while coach of the Croatian national team. The interview contained comments in relation to homosexuality. No appeal may be made against the verdict in the case, which UEFA said had been submitted to them by the Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) movement. The case has been dealt with now as Barić had no coaching engagement between the posts in Croatia and Albania.