Really sad for Mkhi. Shouldn't be denied a final because of some political issues.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan to miss Europa League final
- Thread starter Sjaakmeoff
- Start date
Unfortunately money is all UEFA cares about. They are responsible for this mess.
I'm actually always in favour of awarding major sporting events to new/different countries. Like awarding the World Cup to South Africa and Russia. Instead of the same (mainly western) countries getting them all the time. Footbal is truly global sport so right we try to include everyone.
However it has to be done for the right reasons, not for just the money.
His statement ends with "...if he plays the issue then it's another story". What sort of veiled threat is that ? That doesn't really inspire confidence.I'm sure every official would not want any trouble to happen in front of the "world" but you only need one stupid nutter to feck everything up.
Apparently some fans who have dual nationality were also denied visas...
In a statement the AFFA said: "We very much regret this unwarranted decision taken. Whilst we recognise the right to make a personal decision not to travel, we would like to reiterate that as the host country Azerbaijan has provided all the necessary guarantees required by Uefa to ensure the personal safety of Mr Mkhitaryan.
"There is no reason whatsoever to put in question the seriousness of these guarantees provided by Azerbaijan."
"There is no reason whatsoever to put in question the seriousness of these guarantees provided by Azerbaijan."
I think anyone who thinks Mkhitaryan would have been safe to go there is clearly unaware of just how toxic their conflict is.
They banned Anthony Bourdain from entering Azerbaijan because he had visited Armenia. How safe do you think an Armenian would be? Think logically please.
Absolute disgrace by UEFA to host the finals in such a backwards country.
They banned Anthony Bourdain from entering Azerbaijan because he had visited Armenia. How safe do you think an Armenian would be? Think logically please.
Absolute disgrace by UEFA to host the finals in such a backwards country.
Football isn't worth it to risk his life though. Nothing can prepare for a crazed nutter to suddenly invade the pitch and attack the player.
It sucks for him, but best for his sake that he doesn't go.
They're absolutely right btw. This has nothing to do with Mkhitaryan being in danger, it's a personal decision i.e. he hates Azerbaijan.
Armenia competed in the Azerbaijan Eurovision, proudly displaying their flag. They were all granted visas and nothing happened.
Same with the European games held in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Armenian athletes weren't attacked at all and they were never in danger.
It's just a shame Mkhitaryan and his family made the selfish decision play political games and boycott the most important match of our season.
Yeah, I'd definitely be afraid that some member of the security detail fancied being declared a national hero, getting a nice flat and a cushy promotion if I were him.
If someone, say, attacks Micky, what do you think will happen with 1. the Europa league final 2. UEFA Euros in 2020 — some of its games are supposed to happen in Baku? Do you think that Aliev or whoever is their president now would like a man who'll cost his country literally hundreds of millions of dollars?
The situation with Safarov is different, he served time in Hungary and the crime didn't happen in Azerbaijan, so they kinda weren't responsible... and even then their international reputation took a huge hit (as it should've, of course) after they did all that stuff with pardoning him and fecking over Hungary in the process. After 2012 they've spent an enormous amount of money trying to resurrect their public image, a lot of this moey went into football — take a look at Atletico Madrid, for example. They won't risk losing it.
I hate that I act as an Azerbaijan's apologist here as I despise their politics and Safarov's case in particular but people seem to turn off their logic when they come into this thread.
I'm not saying the Azeri government would do anything like they did with Safarov. Given what they stand to lose from something like that happening, they might actually make an example of the guy. I'm just saying, it's not an unreasonable fear to have. Some random police officer put on Mkhitaryans detail might not think of the greater ramifications, and instead let his seething hatred for Armenians and the celebration of Safarov guide his actions. It's extremely unlikely, but likely enough that it's a risk an Armenian might not want to take.
And that's not even considering the fact that people manage to get on to stages and pitches despite some pretty tight security all the time, and it only takes one guy with a sharp implement to create an extremely dangerous situation.
This is honestly the first time I've heard this type of response. I don't really know enough about the political situation to pass judgement but do you know of there are many other Arsenal fan who feel this way?
There's a decent number of Arsenal fans who feel this way. The problem is most don't bother to try and understand the situation they just lazily read the headlines. I met fans who genuinely believe Mkhitaryan has been banned from playing because he's Armenian or that they refused to give him security assurances. None of this is true but it doesn't stop people believing it.
The fact is, he is allowed to play, has been security guarantees and also other Armenians have competed in Baku before with no incident.
I actually got my facts wrong on Eurovision in Baku, they boycotted that and paid a huge fine as a result. But they did show up in Baku 2015 and displayed their flag and nothing happened to their athletes. The fact is, Armenians do periodically boycott Azerbaijan and it has nothing to do with being in danger. There are people fearing for his life right here on the Caf which is just insane. That's mainly why I'm posting this. The reaction here is well off.
What's interesting is even some Armenians are opposed to Mkhitaryan's boycott:
“The criticism directed to Azerbaijan and UEFA is incomprehensible,” wrote Ervand Hakobyan, the press secretary for the Boxing Federation of Armenia, on his Facebook page. “Mkhitaryan made the decision to not go by himself, they provided all the security guarantees.” Commenters on the post took both sides on the argument; one called Mkhitaryan a “coward” and pointed to Armenian wrestlers who went to Baku for tournaments, including the World Wrestling Championships in 2007 and the European Games in 2015.
Insulting another member
Saw a video of random Arsenal fans with Mkhitaryan on the back of shirts held up today
You're an utterly disgusting poor excuse for a human being
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Did the cops think Mkhitaryan has snuck into the country?
I'd be shitting it if I was that guy. Kudos!
I think fans should be able to wear an Arsenal shirt with one of their players name at the back. Personally I wouldn't as that might be seen as provocative.
But it shows how high the tensions are that the police felt the need to stop the 2 guys and only let them go on after presumably getting the go clear from his superiors.
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Why don’t Arsenal just make a stand and say they won’t show up to the game?
Why would they do that?
Because this isn't a feel-good hollywood film with a happy ending
They’d need Chelsea to do that with them. Otherwise UEFA will forfeit them and they’d be banned from UEFA competitions for a long time.
Except this isn’t a hypothetical hollywood fairytale, it’s a sad real life reality which is being allowed to occur so I don’t know what you’re trying to get at exactly...
Oh I see. That’s unfortunate on their part. Still makes no sense how the final isn’t relocated elsewhere or how it was even allowed to be here in the first place.
Whats the point in checking if someone wears a Mkhitaryan shirt? 
Do they want to take the shirt off the fan or give him a fine
Do they want to take the shirt off the fan or give him a fine
♪ ...you'll sometimes walk aloooone...♫
Say yes to racism.
Yeah and he would run through the streets of Baku in his own kit
Some things you just wonder what the point of it is, like in this case with their police. The guy isnt there, so instead of ignoring the topic they go and still get exposure on that matter
How can Mkhi be so sure his safety is assured just because they say so? This is a place that pardoned a murderer as soon as he landed back home and made him out to be a hero despite promising to make him serve his sentence.
Then this shit with the fans wearing Mkhi shirts? If he is allowed there without issue then why are the fans wearing shirts a problem?
Mkhi ain't a coward for not going he is completely right, his safety can NOT be assured no matter what these loons tell him.
Then this shit with the fans wearing Mkhi shirts? If he is allowed there without issue then why are the fans wearing shirts a problem?
Mkhi ain't a coward for not going he is completely right, his safety can NOT be assured no matter what these loons tell him.
EUFA threatened to take action against Arsenal if fans protested.
What happened to free speech and freedom of expression?
All of the values that have been upheld by the West are gradually being eroded.
What happened to free speech and freedom of expression?
All of the values that have been upheld by the West are gradually being eroded.
There is no such thing as free speech when it comes to certain situations
These values aren't absolute, they are at the discretion of your host wherever you are.
But they didn't show up.
It was EUFA not the hosts who said they would be punished. EUFA who claim they “work with its partners to ensure safe, secure and welcoming conditions for all football matches hosted across Europe.”
https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/protecting-the-game/security/index.html
....unless of course it means EUFA lose face or money in which case they couldn’t give a monkeys..........k
You spelled UEFA wrong not once or twice, but three times.
Sorry, I just had to say this.
Very honorable of Arsenal
That's irrelevant to your post or mine. You made a general statement about the values of the West. These values aren't absolute, they are not applied the same way everywhere and every time in the West.
And the UEFA is the host as much as the countries the competition is played in.
....if only our players had shown this level of consistency we might have made the top four!You spelled UEFA wrong not once or twice, but three times.
Sorry, I just had to say this.
I thought it was a slight on UEFA apparently being as corrupt as the EU. Brilliant if that was the intention considering the final was in a non EU member state.You spelled UEFA wrong not once or twice, but three times.
Sorry, I just had to say this.