Despite a chequered human rights records, the inability of one player to travel due to safety concerns and several Arsenal and Chelsea fans claiming to have been denied visas, the UEFA Europa League final went ahead tonight in Baku.
The build-up to the game has been marred by controversy after Arsenal midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan stated he would not travel due to security concerns. Fans have also hit out at exorbitant costs involved in trying to support their team. As the game got underway, there were large swaths of empty seats.
It prompted Chelsea fans to begin a chant aimed squarely at the European body's decision-makers.
Shocking but not surprising to see so many empty seats here at the final! What a joke. Bad look for the sport. pic.twitter.com/UNtcfls82G
— Football Stands (@TheFootyStands) May 29, 2019
A lot of empty seats in Baku. This really isn’t a good look for UEFA. pic.twitter.com/BujGSD5gPG
— James Benge (@jamesbenge) May 29, 2019
Chelsea fans chant: "fuck off UEFA, is this what you want?"
— James Benge (@jamesbenge) May 29, 2019
Chelsea fans: "Fuck off UEFA, is this what you want?"
— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) May 29, 2019
Amnesty International pointed the finger at UEFA earlier this week when they said in a statement that Azerbaijan must not be allowed to “sportswash its appalling human rights record”.
Azerbaijan is in the grip of a sinister human rights crackdown, with journalists, bloggers and human rights defenders being ruthlessly targeted. Unfair trials and smear campaigns remain commonplace.
LGBTI people have been arrested, and even people fleeing the country have been harassed and pressured to return.
The decision to award the final was made well in advance of tonight. Next year's final has already been awarded to Stadion Energa Gdańsk in Gdańsk, Poland.
