Henrikh Mkhitaryan is Not Allowed to Join the Armenia National Team

Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the captain of the Armenia national team, will not be able to join the national team for the upcoming matches. The reason is once again related to the coronavirus, as reported by the Armenian Football Federation (AFF).

On November 6, the AFF received an official letter from AS Roma, advising that due to a positive COVID-19 test from one of the team’s players, Henrikh Mkhitaryan should be released from the obligation to join the Armenia national team.

On November 7, AS Roma sent another letter to the AFF, written by the regional health authority in Rome, which referred to new healthcare regulations adopted in Italy. It was stated that football players belonging to Roma cannot participate in any UEFA-sanctioned sporting events until the end of the quarantine period. Players must self-isolate at the club's base and cannot leave Italy, and thus cannot join their national teams.

This regulation applies not only to Roma but also to clubs like AC Milan, Inter Milan, Fiorentina, Genoa, and others that represent regions in Italy with a higher prevalence of COVID-19.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan was prepared and eager to join the Armenia national team, especially considering the importance of the upcoming two matches for our team. Both Mkhitaryan and the AFF engaged in negotiations with AS Roma over several days to try to secure an exception for the arrival of our captain to Armenia. However, the club has again confirmed that a positive resolution to the matter is not within their control.

Thus, Henrikh Mkhitaryan will not be able to travel to Armenia and participate in the national team’s upcoming matches.