Ahead of West Ham United Europa Conference League game against Danish side Viborg, confusion has hit the camp of the visitors for the game in London.
Two of their key players were not granted an entry visa into the United Kingdom due to post-Brexit visa rules for non-EU citizens. The club said it meant there was insufficient time to secure a visa for the duo.
The players are Nigerian winger Ibrahim Said and Gambian forward Alassana Jatta, they won’t face West Ham on Thursday at the London Stadium due to entry rules for non-European Union citizens.
A statement by Viborg said: ‘We are extremely sorry that we have not been able to get visas for the two players.
20 year old Sa’id was a part of the 2019 Nigeria U17 team and he has so far been ever present for Viborg. His absence will no doubt hurt the team the most as he would surely have started.
‘We have tried everything, and have been in close contact with DBU [Danish Football Association], UEFA, the two embassies and another foreign club which has been in a similar situation, but unfortunately this has proved to be impossible, as there is a processing time of several weeks and the match was only finally decided a week ago.’
Viborg sporting director Esper Fredberg said: ‘It is very unfortunate purely sportingly, as both players would have had a role in the match, but even more unfortunate purely humanly, that the two miss out on the great experience.’
