A top 10 list of Armenian sporting stars for 2016 has caused controversy in that country after it failed to include the Manchester United footballer Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

The Top 10 list was compiled by the Federation of Sports Journalists of Armenia and there was not too much debate about the choice of the Greco-Roman wrestler, and Olympic gold medallist in Rio, Artur Aleksanyan, as No1 on the list.

However, the omission of Mkhitaryan, who joined United from Borussia Dortmund in the summer and scored a brilliant goal in Monday’s 3-1 win over Sunderland at Old Trafford, raised eyebrows, especially as the same panel of journalists then voted him as Armenia’s footballer of the year for the seventh year in succession.

The president of the Football Federation of Armenia, Ruben Hayrapetyan, made an indirect statement on the federation’s website that not including Mkhitaryan had been done on purpose. He said: “We can’t deny Mkhitaryan’s contribution and achievements in this sport, and everyone knows about it, even those who tried to compose tales about how they chose the top athletes of the year.

“It’s immoral that the overwhelming majority of sport journalists, who have taken part in the same voting, start their professional business with news about Henrikh Mkhitaryan and end it again with Henrikh Mkhitaryan every single day.”

Armenia’s top 10 athletes in 2016

1. Artur Aleksanyan, Greco-Roman wrestling

2. Mihran Harutyunyan, Greco-Roman wrestling

3. Simon Martirosyan, weightlifting

4. Gor Minasyan, weightlifting

5. Nazik Avdalyan, weightlifting

6. Harutyun Merdinian, gymnastics

7. Andranik Karapetyan, weightlifting

8. Hripsime Khurshudyan, weightlifting

9. Varsham Boranyan, Greco-Roman wrestling

10. Artur Davtyan, gymnastics