How Politics Can Ruin Sport

Today, Wednesday the 29th of May, Arsenal will take on Chelsea in the Europa League Final, the 2nd most important game in European soccer. This game has huge stakes as it will determine who plays in the champions league next season, the most prestigious tournament in club soccer. However, this game has been marred by the location in which the final is being held, Baku, Azerbaijan.

Armenia and Azerbaijan are two relatively small countries that border one another somewhere between Europe and Asia in Eurasia. Both nations were initially part of the Russian Empire, and gained independence at the same time in 1918. From there, Armenia and Azerbaijan were engaged in a 3 year war over territorial disputes. The fighting ended only when both Armenia and Azerbaijan were annexed by the Soviet Union. While part of the USSR, diplomatic relations between the nations were relatively chill. However, in 1988, tensions erupted into what is known as the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This is a territorial and ethnic conflict over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh and its seven surrounding districts. Between 1988 and 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia engaged in the Nagorno-Karabakh War until a ceasefire in 1994. Ever since 1994 relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan have remained very tense. In fact, there are currently no diplomatic relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

In the Arsenal squad there is a player called Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who is there 3rd top scorer in the league and one of these best attackers. On top of that, as you may have guessed, is Armenian. Due to the Final being played in Azerbaijan, his Mkhitaryan’s safety could not be guaranteed, given that many other Armenians have been murdered in Azerbaijan. Rival soccer fans came together in uproar about Mkhitaryan not being able to play in the final. It begs the question how UEFA, the organization that runs the competition allowed the Final to be hosted in a place where not all ethnicities and cultures are welcome. Baku was also given two games in the upcoming European Championship. Oftentimes these venue selections can be swayed by financial impetus. How we allow nations such as Azerbaijan to have international influence in sport baffles me.

Barring all this I pray the Arsenal can still win the game. Come On You Arsenal!