dosser Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 did anyone else hear on clyde this morning that Flamurtari arer unable to get visa's for all their players and the game may be postponed??? Nothing was mentioned regards what happens next but surely UEFA will give us the game !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jk2205 Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Motherwell waiting to discover whether Europa League opponents are allowed into country Jul 21 2009 By Alan Marshall  MOTHERWELL'S Europa League rivals are struggling to travel to Scotland because the British Embassy has delayed issuing them visas.  Albanian side SK Flamurtari are due to arrive in the UK tomorrow to face Jim Gannon's men at Airdrie on Thursday.  But there are serious doubts over whether the Eastern European side will be able to fulfil the fixture because of a row over visas.  All Albanians who enter the UK require visas, but the British Embassy in Tirana has refused to hand out the required documents until they make further inquiries.  Flamurtari chairman Shpetim Gjika said: "There has been a delay in processing our visas. The British Embassy has said we must declare all our players as employees for tax reasons.  "We are very surprised by this and we can only hope the Embassy accepts our paperwork in time as we have a tight deadline.  "If they continue to delay handing out visas then there is a real risk we could miss the game.  "We are confused by the Embassy's request. If we are delayed any further, we will miss our flight to Scotland and it would greatly complicate everything."  A spokeswoman for the British Embassy refused to say whether Flamurtari would be able to cut through the red tape. She said: "We only received the paperwork from the club on Friday and it is still being considered.  "They will receive an answer from us in due course."  Motherwell were embroiled in controversy last week after advising their fans not to travel to the Albanian city of Vlore for their first leg, which ended in a controversial 1-0 defeat for the Lanarkshire men.  They had to retract their warning after British Embassy staff insisted the area was perfectly safe to visit.  Now Flamurtari are in a real sweat to make the return leg in Airdrie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewK Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Just mentioned there that we would progress in the competition  It was Keevins though, so I'll wait and see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motherwell Seagull Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 The fact that anyone playing in a European competition requires a Visa to play (or watch) a game is a farce! Â Whilst I am sure this will be sorted out, I'd hate to progress in a sporting competition because of political gamesmanship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev IM Jolly Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 The fact that anyone playing in a European competition requires a Visa to play (or watch) a game is a farce! Is that not more of a comment on the fact that non-EU member countries (for example) are allowed to participate in UEFA competitions though? Â Countries aren't going to relax their immigration controls and invite in all and sundry purely for a game of fitba, are they? Â I think it's another apparent flaw in this quick fire setup they've created for these early rounds of the Europa League. A logistical nightmare for fans and clubs alike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastStandWellFan Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 It's not a farce - it makes no difference why a person enters a country. If a visa is required then there's no way around it. Â Stuart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazzie Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 I think the Rev has got it spot-on. UEFA must have been aware that there would be problems with people travelling in and out of the EU at short notice and should have amended their tournament format accordingly. Football is not above the law unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HanoMaSano Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Not wanting to sound too harsh, but if they don't get their visas in time then they have absolutely nobody to blame but themselves. Â Flamurtari have known for 4 weeks or so that they were coming to the UK this week (to play either us of Llanelli) to have only put the paperwork in on Friday as has been reported seems amaturish in the extreme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoss Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Whereas I fully expect this mob to sort things out , this will have an effect on their preperations. Â Lets hope we can take advantage come Thursday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellfan1984 Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Agree with HanoMaSano. Four weeks is surely plenty of time to get a Visa for their players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnstone Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Yeah Flamaturi have kwon for a month they would be coming to the UK. Â Seems they have basically just forgot. Â I really doubt they will be able to get over in time. Â Bad news for Motherwell as it means no money on gate reciepts as we will have to get our money back. Â But good news as it means 3rd round party time! Â Mind you behind all this is old Hugh Keevins who probably doesn't even know who his mortage is with never mind the coming and goings of European football. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Diggle Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Not wanting to sound too harsh, but if they don't get their visas in time then they have absolutely nobody to blame but themselves. Flamurtari have known for 4 weeks or so that they were coming to the UK this week (to play either us of Llanelli) to have only put the paperwork in on Friday as has been reported seems amaturish in the extreme.  That's a fair point however I think the earliest they could have had enough detail to get visas would have been after the away leg on 9th July as I'm sure you need to let the embassy know exactly where you're going in that country etc. Still nearly 2 wks.  The story indicates it was only last Friday that they kicked the thing off - so if accurate that would be leaving it a bit tight and if true a bit risky.  Maybe they're scared the big keeper will go on a runner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madwullie Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Must admit I'd rather go through on merit than some balls-up on their part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infamous Wee Grafter Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 The fact that anyone playing in a European competition requires a Visa to play (or watch) a game is a farce! Whilst I am sure this will be sorted out, I'd hate to progress in a sporting competition because of political gamesmanship.  I think during the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, a lot of african athletes without even competing, went missing so things were tightened up back then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decorator Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 hope they make it in time but if not nothing we can do but look forward to another party Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Pie & Bovril will go into meltdown if this happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev IM Jolly Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Must admit I'd rather go through on merit than some balls-up on their part. Would anybody with half a brain and a shred of scruples really think any differently? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fizoxy Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Yep, more evidence that the board of Motherwell FC is actually the Illuminati. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decorator Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 flow you shed any light on if the club had to do anything different to get the large numbers in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tassinari Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Maybe they were hedging their bets on being humped in the 1st leg and thought about saving some cash by a non appearance in the 2nd leg?? Â Was really looking forward to a competitive match, so hopefully it can get sorted out ASAP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
real dosser Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Â The Albanians are saying they must declare all travellers are employees of the club for tax reasons. Â Looks like the Border Control people are only trying to ensure that there are no dodgy Eastern Europeans looking to enter the country and perhaps not go back again. Â If they are having to register them as employees of the club there would be some sort of control over who was entering the country. Â Then again our friendly Albanian poster from last week was going on about how beautiful the women were over there so why would they want to come over here. Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glasgowfan Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Immigration officials are surely not suggesting that the Albanian players will take one look at Airdrie and decide they want to stay there rather than go home....tempted by the Airdrieonian seductresses wallowing out of Greggs chewing on a steakbake, washed down by a Smirnoff Ice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rammer Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 I've absolutely nothing to base this on but I would imagine the game will go ahead without any problems. I'm sure things will be sorted before Thursday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
real dosser Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 The Albanians will never have experienced anything like a steakbake from Greggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Well_Jaggy Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Did Motherwell have to obtain Visas to get into albania? If we did then I can only assume its easier for us to get into their country than it is for them to come here. basically, we had a week to sort out entry to their place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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