Azerbaijan indicates Mkhitaryan can play in Europa final
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry indicated Friday that Arsenal midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan can play in the Europa League final in Baku despite tension over the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
Asked about Mkhitaryan, ministry spokeswoman Leyla Abdullayeva told The Associated Press that "many major sports events have been hosted in Azerbaijan, and Armenian athletes have taken part in them. Sports and politics are separate."
The source reminds that Mkhitaryan did not travel with the Arsenal squad for a group-stage game in Azerbaijan earlier this season. Arsenal has said it is seeking guarantees from UEFA that Mkhitaryan can travel for the May 29 final against Chelsea.
UEFA said Friday that it had received assurances from Azerbaijan's soccer governing body, but didn't mention a government commitment.
"Assurances were sought on this matter by UEFA and Arsenal FC, with the Azerbaijan Football Association confirming that there would be no problem for the player in question to enter and stay in Azerbaijan and that all necessary security measures would be in place," UEFA said in emailed comments.'