Talk:Enea Mihaj

Nationality

Two recent editors have continuously changed this player's nationality from "Albanian" to "Greek." Prior to this dispute, the player's nationality was left ambiguous because his place of birth was listed as "Rhodes, Greece." This is standard practice on WP:FOOTY for any player who was born in one nation and represents another. A source was provided, however, that showed clearly that Mihaj was actually born in Albania and raised in Greece. Given that he has represented Albania at under-19, under-20, and senior levels and was born there, it follows WP:FOOTY standards to list his nationality unambiguously as "Albanian" in the lead. The country of the team in which he plays makes no difference, as many players with foreign nationalities play in leagues across the world. I contend, without reservation, that he should not be listed as "Greek" in the lead, as there is no reason to view that as his primary nationality in light of such clear and obvious evidence to the contrary. Anwegmann (talk) 21:31, 10 July 2022 (UTC)

Has been living in Greece since a very young age and has been playing for two Greek teams prior the one he currently belongs. Definitely not zero connection to Greece, thus no reason to ommit his nationality. Fjfgd (talk) 21:37, 10 July 2022 (UTC)

For the record, saw a reference of mine at another user's tp, speaking facts ≠ having the impression of being speaked at an agressive tone, just because those facts may come contrary to our beliefs. Fjfgd (talk) 21:44, 10 July 2022 (UTC)

A lot of players from one country play in foreign leagues for their entire careers. That does not make them attached to the nationality of the league in which they play. You would have a point if Mihaj had been born in Albania and represented Greece internationally, or vice versa—born in Greece but represented Albania, as was the case before the source you cited showing his birth in Albania. The key here, though, is that Mihaj was born in Albania and has represented only Albania internationally. The country of the league he plays in has nothing to do with his nationality as a footballer. Yunus Musah and Julian Green are excellent examples of similar players. Born in the United States but raised in England and Germany, respectively, they are "American soccer player[s]" because they represented their birth nation. The fact that they both play in non-American leagues, grew up out the States, and even represented other nations at youth level doesn't matter. This is long-established precedent in WP:FOOTY. There are literally thousands of examples of this, as it is standard to list the nationality of the nation in which a player was born until shown clearly they are primarily another nationality. In Mihaj's case, his birth in Albania and his continual representation of Albania at international level make him unambiguously "Albanian." He may be a Greek citizen, but there is no evidence of that, and he clearly does not identify as a "Greek footballer." Anwegmann (talk) 21:45, 10 July 2022 (UTC)

Already found 2 sources that describe him as a dual-citizenship owner [1] [2]. They refer to Rhodes as birthplace, so I am starting thinking that the source which should be doubt is the one I recently added about him being born in Albania since I fail to find anywhere else the same info. Fjfgd (talk) 21:51, 10 July 2022 (UTC)

Then I suggest we revert to how it was before this dispute: Birth place as "Rhodes, Greece" (until we can conclusively establish that he was born in Albania) and a lead that reads "...is a professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Greek Super League club PAOK. Born in Greece, he represents the Albania national team."

This would fall in line with other similar players like Tom Cairney, Nikita Rukavytsya, Bobby Decordova-Reid, etc. Anwegmann (talk) 21:59, 10 July 2022 (UTC)

Or just Greek-Albanian - and do not take for granted things you cannot be 100% sure about them as for the former. Fjfgd (talk) 22:02, 10 July 2022 (UTC)

WP:FOOTY makes quite clear that hyphenation just caused confusion and should not be done. We should follow standard practice by ambiguating. Anwegmann (talk) 22:06, 10 July 2022 (UTC)

So his place of birth is listed as Greece at the following sites: [3], [4], [5], and [6]

His place of birth is listed as Albania in only one source that I can find: [7], which is the one you originally cited.

Although the team's site is quite reliable, it is hard to argue against four other reliable sources that say Greece. So I stand by my suggestion above—to make his nationality ambiguous, as that's what seems to be the case. Anwegmann (talk) 22:05, 10 July 2022 (UTC)

Here are some references to discussions at WP:FOOTY that support ambiguous nationality in cases like this: [8], [9], and [10] Anwegmann (talk) 22:10, 10 July 2022 (UTC)