Gai: How can Mkhitaryan, being a footballer, be considered an enemy in Azerbaijan?

Former Shakhtar Donetsk and Qabala footballer Oleksiy Gai has talked about the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, drawing parallels with the latest incident when Armenian national football team and Arsenal midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan pulled out of the Europa League clash against Qarabag in Azerbaijan.

“I have had the same experience as Mkhitaryan had. We were set to face Borussia Dortmund, but the team did not arrive,” ua.tribuna.com quoted the footballer as saying.

“I realize that there is a conflict, they are fighting for lands, but how can Mkhitaryan, being a footballer, be considered an enemy in Azerbaijan?  He is someone who is engaged in his beloved job. He doesn’t occupy territories but is not allowed to show what he loves to do. Such things are incomprehensible for me,” he stressed.

https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2018/10/31/Gai-Mkhitaryan-enemy-Azerbaijan/2025949