Arsenal fans launch petition to move Europa League final to Wembley from ‘unsafe’ Baku over Mkhitaryan boycott
Gunners fans are fuming over Henrikh Mkhitaryan not being allowed to play in the game
FUMING Arsenal fans have started a petition to get the Europa League final moved from Baku to Wembley.
Armenian forward Henrikh Mkhitaryan decided to stay at home over fear he could be targeted because of the long conflict between his country and Azerbaijan.
Fans of both Arsenal and Chelsea were already angry the final was being held in Azerbaijan, a nation nearly 3,000 miles away and barely in Europe, and that they would be allocated only 6,000 tickets each.
But has called on fans of both the Gunners and Blues to sign.
It reads: "In addition to the numerous & unprecedented logistical issues that have precluded a majority of fans from both Arsenal & Chelsea from attending the Europa League Final, Uefa's decision to host the match in Baku, Azerbaijan, is one that has forced Arsenal’s Armenian international Henrikh Mkhitaryan to be left out of the North London side’s squad, for fear of bodily harm stemming from Armenia and Azerbaijan‘s century-long violent conflict.
"This decision by Uefa is one that unabashedly prioritises profit over the sanctity of the beautiful game & the safety of its players; and while recognisably unrealistic, this calls for Uefa to recognise the nefarious effects of their decision, & sanction of move of the Final from Baku to London’s Wembley Stadium.
"#BoycottBaku."
No room for racism or bigotry.
Football fan
Signing the petition Oba Fatokun said: "Why shouldn't a player be able to play such an important game.
"Because he feels unsafe? Uefa should never have allowed this.";
Serhat Akgun added: "We need justice for Mhiki and not only him, but the other British-Armenian and Armenian people who want to go watch this fabulous game we call football, where there is no room for racism or bigotry."
The hashtag 'BoycottBaku' has seen many thousands of replies since Arsenal announced that Mkhitaryan would not be travelling to the game.
Arsenal are now set to meet Uefa with managing director Vinai Venkatesham calling the situation "unacceptable".
He said: "I struggle to find words for how strongly I feel.
"We don't feel he can travel and it's extraordinarily sad. You don't get a chance to play in major European finals often and Miki has had it taken away from him.
"We made our point clearly to Uefa - we have written to them. We will also sit down with them face to face after the final and express how it is unacceptable and how it can never happen again to Arsenal or anyone."