German Team CEO Says There Are Security Concerns for Mkhitaryan in Baku

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

One of the leading Borussia Dortmund footballers, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, might not travel to Baku for the match against Azerbaijani Qabala, the German newspaper Bild reports, according to Sports.ru.

Hans-Joachim Watzke, the CEO of Borussia Dortmund, said the club will probably make a decision to do without their midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the away match against Qabala.

“There are security concerns. If the player does not feel comfortable or has fears, we will certainly take this into account,” Watzke highlighted.

Meanwhile, when asked whether he has received an Azerbaijani visa for the match with Qabala, Mkhitaryan told the Russian newspaper Sport Express that he does not know. “My passport is not with me. You had better ask the leadership of the club. I am getting ready for the game.”

Earlier, media reported that Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the Armenian midfielder of the German football club Borussia Dortmund, may miss the Europa League group stage match with the Azerbaijani Qabala in Baku because of his visit to Nagorno Karabakh Republic. In case he arrives in Baku, he may be arrested.

The UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino said UEFA supports the clubs in organizing the away matches and addresses the problems with obtaining visas. “I think the situation around Mkhitaryan’s visit to Azerbaijan will not be an exception,” Infantino said. However, in case Mkhitaryan faces problems regarding his visit for Europa League match, UEFA (the Union of European Football Associations) intends to support him.