As is reasonable for a social phenomenon of its magnitudefootball in many cases transcends the boundaries of sport and it touches – directly or indirectly – issues of a different nature. And in this case, if the focus is set to midfield of one of the Champions League finalists, Interit will be easy to find two protagonists who, throughout their careers, confirm this idea.
We are talking about Armenian Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Turkish (born in Germany) Hakan Calhanogluoften teammates in his midfield Nero azzurro and silent pillars of this great European presence of Simone Inzaghi’s side.
In itself, it is already impressive, to say the least, to find a midfield consisting of an Armenian and a Turkish player, knowing bloody history and huge controversies involving both countries. Including the Armenian genocide since the early 20th century (recognized by American countries such as Argentina, Mexico and the United States, but not by Spain).
However, the story becomes even more specific when the political engagement and participation which both Mkhitaryan and Calhanoglu had different representative causes for their nations.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Hakan Calhanoglu, distant companions
Throughout his career, both at club and national team level, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Hakan Calhanoglu have been at the center of different controversieslinked to their nationalities, political sympathies and controversial endorsements.
In Mkhitaryan’s case, the problems came mostly Azerbaijana country that borders both Turkey and Armenia, because of the player support for the independence of the Republic of Artsakh (formerly known as the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic), a state located in the southwest of Azerbaijan, with a majority Armenian population.
Mkhitaryan has not only made public his own support for the Armenian cause in Nagorno-Karabakhbut he has also made charitable visits to the disputed area and received a medal from the Prime Minister of Artsakhlinked to their actions in the area.
For an Inter publication, Henrikh Mkhitaryan was asked to paint his country. Mkhitaryan equalized #Armenia and #Artsakhto which the Azerbaijanis reacted with abusive comments. pic.twitter.com/lIkIVwVdl6
— Empire Armenia 🇦🇲 (@ImperioArmenia) January 15, 2023
This has apparently created major conflicts for Mkhitaryan, who on several occasions missed different matches of his teams in Azerbaijan, fearing for his safety. The most notorious case was his final of the Europa League 2019 in the capital Bakubeing low for his Arsenal against Chelsea.
It is worth mentioning that in the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh war, Turkey strongly supported Azerbaijan with military weapons.
Calhanoglou, for his part, has been the focus of criticism on more than one occasion, due to his public support for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoganas well as his statements in his favor Turkish military attacks in Syriaheld in the year 2019.
The most recognized case in this regard occurred during a match between Turkey and Albania in 2019when Calhanoglou and several of his teammates celebrated a goal by performing a military saluteprecisely during the aforementioned process of the Turkish attack on Syria.
UEFA’s decision reached Turkey’s players who, in support of President Erdogan, performed the military salute gesture. A fine of 50 thousand euros is imposed between the players mentioned in Hakan Çalhanoğlu and other players pic.twitter.com/sDEJinWeyT
— Milan Posts (@MilanPosts) December 21, 2019
The said action led UEFA to take action on the matter and impose a Turkish players who saluted were fined.
