African soccer players denied British entry to play West Ham
Sports
African soccer players denied British entry to play West Ham
LONDON (AP) — Two African soccer players have been unable to enter Britain to face English team West Ham in a Europa Conference League game, Danish club Viborg said Tuesday.
Entry visas were not processed in time for Nigerian player Ibrahim Said and Gambian forward Alassana Jatta to play in London on Thursday in the playoff round of the third-tier European competition.
Viborg said the problem could not be solved despite working with embassies from Denmark and Britain, along with UEFA and the Danish soccer federation.
Visas for the players to enter Britain take several weeks to process, the club said, and the scheduled game was confirmed only last week.
Although the draw for the playoff round was made on Aug. 2, it was on Aug. 9 that Viborg advanced by completing a 5-1 aggregate victory over Faeroese club B36 Tórshavn. Jatta scored in the 2-1 second-leg win.
Viborg is playing in European competition for the first time in 22 years. West Ham reached the Europa League semifinals last season.
Viborg will host the Premier League club in the second leg next week. The winner advances to the group stage.
