Visa problem likely to delay India football team’s departure

The Indian football team's preparatory camp in Dubai and Spain could be delayed by a day after the national football federation failed to procure Spanish visas for some players on time.

The Indian football team’s preparatory camp in Dubai and Spain could be delayed by a day after the national football federation failed to procure Spanish visas for some players on time.

The team was scheduled to leave for Dubai on Thursday where they were expected to train till July 7. From there they head off to Spain where they were supposed to use the practice facilities of European champions Barcelona for a month as preparation for the ONGC Nehru Cup. Problems arose with the visas of players belonging to Maharashtra,Goa,Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

According to the rules,visas of these players had to be processed at the Spanish Consulate in Mumbai but unaware of the regulation,the All India Football Federation had mistakenly submitted it to the Embassy here.

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The visas were then sent to Mumbai and is expected on Thursday or the day after.

“We are trying to get things resolved as soon as possible. If we get the visas by tomorrow morning then the players can leave in the evening,and if not it could be the day after,” said AIFF general secretary Alberto Colaco.

The AIFF had initially thought of getting the Spanish visas done in Dubai but Colaco said “it was too risky.”