Azeri-Welsh qualifier in doubt over visa row
The Azerbaijan-Wales World Cup qualification
football match may be cancelled due to visa regulations. Players,
officials and fans of the Welsh national team have been blocking
the Azerbaijani embassy in London for some time, while the embassy
says they should have invitations to enter the country for the
World Cup qualifier on June 6.
Ceri Stennett, spokesperson for the Football Association of Wales (FAW), has told Radio Liberty that they will not travel to Baku if they do not receive visas. "They need invitations from Azerbaijan. The embassy either can`t or doesn`t want to solve the problem of visas for fans, technical staff and some players," he said.
Stennett expressed hope that the problem would soon be resolved because if the game is cancelled due to visa regulations, FIFA may apply sanctions against Azerbaijan.
The FAW has appealed to Azerbaijan`s football authority, AFFA, and the Azerbaijan government, asking for help in resolving the deadlock.
The Azerbaijani embassy in London said a new system for visas had been introduced in Azerbaijan which required an invitation for visitors to be approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"There has been a technical problem with visa issuance and the delay [that] occurred is not only the case for the UK but also for other countries," said the embassy.
The head of AFFA`s information and public relations department, Mikayil Narimanoglu, has said he was aware of the problem and that measures were being taken to solve it. "Generally fans are supposed to take care of the visa matters themselves. In this case, they have pointed to a problem and will be provided with all the help required. AFFA is paying serious attention to the issue," he said.
More than 70 Wales supporters are due to travel to Baku, including a group of 25 fans who are traveling by road.
The two teams last met in Cardiff a year ago and the home side got the upper hand - 1:0.
The FAW spokesman said that the game in Baku, if it does take place, was going to be hard. "We are bracing for a difficult match. Both Azerbaijan and us have not been very successful in the competition so far. We are not taking anything for granted and have a lot of respect for the Azerbaijani team," he said.
Ceri Stennett, spokesperson for the Football Association of Wales (FAW), has told Radio Liberty that they will not travel to Baku if they do not receive visas. "They need invitations from Azerbaijan. The embassy either can`t or doesn`t want to solve the problem of visas for fans, technical staff and some players," he said.
Stennett expressed hope that the problem would soon be resolved because if the game is cancelled due to visa regulations, FIFA may apply sanctions against Azerbaijan.
The FAW has appealed to Azerbaijan`s football authority, AFFA, and the Azerbaijan government, asking for help in resolving the deadlock.
The Azerbaijani embassy in London said a new system for visas had been introduced in Azerbaijan which required an invitation for visitors to be approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"There has been a technical problem with visa issuance and the delay [that] occurred is not only the case for the UK but also for other countries," said the embassy.
The head of AFFA`s information and public relations department, Mikayil Narimanoglu, has said he was aware of the problem and that measures were being taken to solve it. "Generally fans are supposed to take care of the visa matters themselves. In this case, they have pointed to a problem and will be provided with all the help required. AFFA is paying serious attention to the issue," he said.
More than 70 Wales supporters are due to travel to Baku, including a group of 25 fans who are traveling by road.
The two teams last met in Cardiff a year ago and the home side got the upper hand - 1:0.
The FAW spokesman said that the game in Baku, if it does take place, was going to be hard. "We are bracing for a difficult match. Both Azerbaijan and us have not been very successful in the competition so far. We are not taking anything for granted and have a lot of respect for the Azerbaijani team," he said.
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