Brazilian full back Bryan denounces fear and tension in the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan | football

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Bryan lives in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, which is just over 300 km from the border region, where conflicts occur. Martial law, which determines military control and prepares the population for conflict, was determined in both countries in the middle of this week. It also involves, behind the curtains, some military powers in the region. Armenia has the support of Russia and Iran, while Azerbaijan has good relations with Turkey (with whom it has military cooperation) and Israel.

According to Bryan, the main fear of the players and people close to them is that the war will reach the capital and affect the Brazilians.

– And the biggest fear we have here is because the country is very small and the place where the confrontation is taking place, on the border, is less than 300 km from the capital (Yerevan). And 300 km for missiles, fighters, these war businesses, it is a very small space. This is the greatest stress for us. We hope it ends as soon as possible. They try to give us peace of mind, but we are very afraid. We are not accustomed. Brazil has never had any of this, so for us it is a great tension.

The dispute between the countries involves a region of Nagorno Karabakh, coveted because part of it runs pipelines that transport oil and gas. The region declared its independence in 1991, not recognized by the UN. In it there is a majority of the Armenian ethnic group (95% approximately). Azerbaijan, on the other hand, understands that it owns the territory. Bryan reported that there is already a tense atmosphere in the capital.

– When I arrived in February, there were already many Brazilians. My team really has four and other teams also have Brazilians. When you enter Armenia, you already know that you cannot enter Azerbaijan. And vice versa. Whoever arrives in Azerbaijan does not enter Armenian territory either.

Here they have a very old rivalry. The atmosphere between them has never been good, but we never expect this to happen, these clashes, a war to start, as it has happened.

Precisely because he is aware of the support of the military powers to the two nations, Bryan said there is a fear that the conflict will escalate. However, he says that the Brazilian consulate in Yerevan has been supporting the players and trying to reassure them.

– If the war continues, if other countries enter, our fear is that they will turn to the capital. Of wanting to launch a missile in the capital, and vice versa, where it has nothing to do with history. This is our fear. But here we were already in the consulate, there are many Brazilians, we have been talking. Our names have already been sent to the consulate. They transmit information to us. We asked if there was no risk that war would break out, the airport would close and there would be no way out (for Brazil). They said, until then, no, there is no risk of it happening. We are connected in the news, in the updates, because, at any time, it is to buy any flight you have and leave. But that’s it, a very boring environment, very tense, it’s scary and all the time I follow the news hoping that everything will end as soon as possible.

Bryan said his team, Alashkert (one of the most traditional in the country), had a game scheduled for last Tuesday, but it was canceled. Subsequently, the country’s championship was paralyzed by the resumption of the conflict, which has already injured hundreds of people.

– It took us by surprise. On Sunday everything was normal. We had the championship game scheduled for Tuesday. We train Sunday and Monday. Secondly, when we got to training, we already saw the Armenians, the most tense people in the club. We got to know more deeply what had happened. The game that we would have for Tuesday was postponed, rescheduled for Wednesday and also postponed. And yesterday (the Football Federation of Armenia) reported that the championship was postponed indefinitely, teams without training, with nothing. Now is not the time to mess with football.

Bryan regretted that the conflict has soon returned to the stalemate period of the championship, when the players will be able to return to Brazil. He said he hoped everything would end quickly.

– This year is not very easy anymore and it happened just after two months before December, so we can go home (Brazil). Here the championship has a two-month break, December and January, due to snow, because here it snows a lot, it is very cold. Now that he is close to returning home, this war continues. We hope this ends as soon as possible.