Visa glitches may delay Indian football team’s Dubai trip
By IANSWednesday, June 24, 2009
NEW DELHI - Indian football team’s preparatory tour to Dubai and Spain is likely to be delayed by a day as some of the players are yet to get Spanish visa.
The team scheduled to leave for Dubai Thursday, may not board the plane if the players from Maharasthra, Goa, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are unable to get the visa by evening.
All India Football Federation (AIFF) secretary-general Alberto Colaco told IANS that the national federation was trying to sort out the visa problem.
“The Spanish embassy in Delhi insisted that the players from the four states must get their passports stamped at its Mumbai consulate. We are trying to get it as soon as possible,” he said.
According to rules, residents of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Karanataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, Daman and Diu have to apply to the Consulate General of Spain in Mumbai while other states can apply to the Spanish embassy in Delhi.
Unaware of the stipulation, the AIFF applied for visa for all players here Monday but the passports have now been sent to Mumbai and they are expected back by Thursday or Friday.
The team will practice in Dubai till July 7 and the will travel to Barcelona for a month-long camp at the Nou Camp till Aug 7. They also play against some local teams during their stay in Barcelona.
