2023-10-15 21:43:36
The important away game in Azerbaijan started anything but well for the Austrian national football team. Due to problems with the visa, team boss Ralf Rangnick and his assistant coach Peter Perchtold were denied entry until well following midnight.
The team boss took charge of the start of the important away game in Azerbaijan Ralf Rangnick imagined completely differently. While all players, VIP fans and media representatives were able to enter the country without any problems following a four-hour flight from Vienna to Baku, there were problems with the German and his assistant Peter Perchtold problems. The Azeri authorities did not allow the two into the country until late at night due to inconsistencies with their visas. While the ÖFB entourage was able to make its way to the hotel at 9:30 p.m. local time (7:30 p.m. CEST), Rangnick and Perchtold had to wait four hours at the airport. Thanks to the help of the Azerbaijan Football Association, the duo were able to enter the country well following midnight and will therefore be able to attend the game on Monday. The ÖFB was unable to say exactly what problems there were on the night from Sunday to Monday.
No safety concerns
However, the safety concerns were eliminated in advance. Around three weeks following fighting in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, the national team has nothing to fear in Azerbaijan. The ÖFB was in constant contact with the Interior Ministry, UEFA and the Azerbaijan Association. Azerbaijan reconquered the breakaway region, primarily inhabited by Armenians, on September 19th and 20th. Since then there has been a mass exodus of the local population towards Armenia. The international match takes place almost 300 kilometers as the crow flies from Nagorno-Karabakh.
Important game for Austria
Austria will play their penultimate game of the European Championship qualification on Monday (6 p.m. CEST/live ORF 1) in Baku. With a win, Konrad Laimer and Co. would qualify for the 2024 European Championships in Germany.
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