Georgian PM: No one allowed to cast shadow on Georgia-Azerbaijan relations

"No one will be allowed to cast a shadow on Georgia-Azerbaijan relations.”

These words were spoken by Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili following an incident at a football match where a group of Georgian fans allegedly insulted Azerbaijani supporters.

PM Garibashvili called on the country’s Interior Ministry to launch an investigation into the alleged incident.

"A friendly relationship with the Azerbaijani government and people is very important for Georgia,” Garibashvili said in a special statement today.

"As the head of the Georgian Government, I resolutely state that nobody, with such provocative actions, will be allowed to cast a shadow upon relations with Azerbaijan.”

Azerbaijani media stated the incident occurred after a football match between Dinamo Tbilisi and Azerbaijan’s Gabala as part of the UEFA Europa League first qualifying round in Georgia's capital Tbilisi on June 2.

Allegedly, after the game a group of local fans insulted the Azerbaijani flag. In addition, during the match they hung a "provocative banner" that stated a part of Azerbaijan was part of Georgian territory”. After police intervention the banner was removed.

Meanwhile Georgian football officials condemned the incident and hoped it would not have a negative influence on the "friendly relations” between Georgia and Azerbaijan.

FC Dinamo Tbilisi published a statement on its website in Georgian and Azerbaijani languages, where the club dissociated itself from the incident.

The statement read the club condemned the physical confrontation between the fans, which "[had] not been confirmed by the Interior Ministry”.

"Reportedly, the incident took place outside of the Dinamo Arena, meaning Dinamo Tbilisi as the organisers could not take responsibility for this,” the statement read.

It also noted the banner was immediately removed by police after a complaint was made.

The club also said Azerbaijan had played a "huge role” in the history of Dinamo so it was an "honour” for the Georgian side to play against a club from its neighbouring country.

"We hope this fact will not cast a shadow upon the friendly relations between the two countries as well as their sporting past, present and future.”