Dortmund face Azerbaijani club Gabala on Thursday, but have left the Armenian midfielder in Germany because of an ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The region, along with some adjacent territory, has been under the occupation of Armenian soldiers and local ethnic Armenian forces since a 1994 ceasefire ended a six-year war.

Violence has nevertheless broken out sporadically since.

"It's a conflict situation between two countries. This can happen. We have taken the decision together. Had it been the semifinal, we would have maybe decided differently," Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke told reporters on Wednesday.

"We've talked to the player again, and it's the best decision for all involved. There's a bit of discomfort. Henrikh's not upset to stay behind."