QPR's Supposed Indian Signing, Sunil Chhetri Rejected for Work Permit (Coventry and Celtic Interest)

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QPR's REPORTED INDIAN SIGNING, SUNIL CHETRI...REJECTED FOR PERMIT

- Additional Stories and background re Chhetri and his Agent. Earlier this month, Celtic supposedly were interesed in Chhetri --- Profile of Indian Striker,Sunil Chhetri

Football Players' Association of India (FPAI)
Sunil work permit gets rejected
- Here is how India's star found and lost a golden opportunity to play for an English club
- Sunil had signed a three-year contract with Queen's Park Rangers few weeks back. The club since has been working to get its work permit for him to play in England. He was informed by his agent yesterday that It was rejected by the UK government. Since India is not in the top 70 in the FIFA ranking and the British government only permits non EU players if the player is playing for the country and the country is ranked below 70 in FIFA ranking.
- Queen's Park Rangers is also partly owned by Mittal Group. The club had been following Sunil's career for over a year and they were very happy with the way he has been progressing and playing. The club CEO had also come to see him in Barcelona. Sunil though did not train initially in Barcelona but joined in the later stage. The amount of training and two matches he played were very impressive. Sunil has been on the radar of a lot of scouts over the years. His performances have been outstanding for the club and the country. It was rather unfortunate that he got injured during the end of the I- league, which kept him out for a month and half. There has certainly been lot of interest in Indian players over the past few years and it was quite a set back for him to be out in the initial part of the Barcelona tour.
- It would defiantly have been a major step forward for Indian football had his work permit gone through. Queen's Park is a massive club and are currently playing the championship league. They are one of the favourite to win the league. Indian captain says, "Sunil would surely have done well in Queen's Park. He has the ability to play even in the premiership with one or two years of experience in the championship with QPR. It's sad that Indian team does not play enough international matches and that is a big set back for our ranking as well as our development. This is also a reason why today Sunil is not playing in England."
- Asked why was this contract with Queen's Park was kept under wraps, Sunil says, "I had signed with them few weeks back and I knew I still would have had to wait for a work permit. So with lots of stories about me playing in Europe and with having a bad experience with the media in the Coventry case, I was skeptical. I am disappointed because the work permit is something that I can't do anything about, being so close and not getting it is indeed disappointing. But it's not the end of the world. I will still continue working hard for my country and my club Dempo, who have been very supportive."
- Players reaction
Steven Dias: I feel sorry for Sunil. Even I am trying to play outside India. His going there could've helped open opportunities for players like me. I am sure he along with others players will play overseas soon.
- Renedy Singh: Its so unfair to have a ranking issue. They need to look into quality of players then national team ranking. It would help if talented players like Sunil and others make it big.
- Mehrajuddin Wadoo: His playing would boost Indian football and help the game immensely. He surely has the talent to play with the best. FPAI


GOAL.COM - Failure To Get Work Permit Halts Sunil Chhetri's Move To QPR
- Indian international Sunil Chhetri would have donned the Queen's Park Rangers jersey in the upcoming season but the failure to get a work permit halted his dreams for now...29-Aug-2009
- Sunil had signed a three-year contract with Queen's Park Rangers few weeks back. The club since has been working to get its work permit for him to play in England.
- He was informed by his agent yesterday that It was rejected by the UK government. Since India is not in the top 70 in the FIFA ranking and the British government only permits non-EU players if the player is playing for the country and the country is ranked below 70 in FIFA ranking.
- Queen's Park Rangers is also partly owned by Mittal Group. The club had been following Sunil's career for over a year and they were very happy with the way he has been progressing and playing.
- The club's CEO had also come to see him in Barcelona. Sunil though did not train initially in Barcelona but joined in the later stage. The amount of training and two matches he played were very impressive.
- Sunil has been on the radar of a lot of scouts over the years. His performances have been outstanding for the club and the country. It was rather unfortunate that he got injured during the end of the I- league, which kept him out for a month and half. There has certainly been lot of interest in Indian players over the past few years and it was quite a set back for him to be out in the initial part of the Barcelona tour.
- It would definitely have been a major step forward for Indian football had his work permit gone through. Queen's Park is a massive club and are currently playing the championship league. They are one of the favourites to win the league.
- "Sunil would surely have done well in Queen's Park. He has the ability to play even in the premiership with one or two years of experience in the championship with QPR.
- "It's sad that Indian team does not play enough international matches and that is a big setback for our ranking as well as our development. This is also a reason why today Sunil is not playing in England," said Indian skipper Bhaichung Bhutia.
- Asked why was this contract with Queen's Park was kept under wraps, Sunil says, "I had signed with them few weeks back and I knew I still would have had to wait for a work permit. So with lots of stories about me playing in Europe and with having a bad experience with the media in the Coventry case, I was sceptical.
- "I am disappointed because the work permit is something that I can't do anything about, being so close and not getting it is indeed disappointing. But it's not the end of the world. I will still continue working hard for my country and my club Dempo, who have been very supportive." Goal.com


Times of India
We need to lift our game to beat Syria in final: Houghton
- NEW DELHI: India coach Bob Houghton on Saturday said his boys will have to lift their game on Monday to beat Syria in the final of the Nehru Cup international football tournament.
- Houghton admitted that his boys lost to a team which played better on Saturday but said they can still beat Syria in the summit clash.
- "We played well today and we lost by a small margin. That too through a goal from set play," Houghton said after India sans captain Bhaichung Bhutia lost 0-1 to Syria in their last round-robin fixture.
- "Syria are a strong side. We have to lift our game on Monday to beat them. The good crowd and the good environment and I think we can beat them in the final," he added.
- "It was a difficult game for the reserve players as they had not played much in the tournament and they had to prove they are also contributing for the team."
- The Englishman lost his cool when a scribe apparently laughed at a fellow journalist trying to ask a question.
- When asked why striker Sunil Chhetri could not get work permit to play in English Championship side Queens Park Rangers, Houghton retorted, "What can I say. It is a fact that India are ranked below 70 in FIFA chart and that is why Chhetri could not get work permit. What can I say more."
- "You have to change your whole domestic structure if you want to improve. It is a pity that Chhetri could not play for QPR. He deserves to play there. If you go on continuing tournaments like Santosh Trophy Indian football will not improve," Houghton said. Times of India

EARLIER THIS YEAR: TRIAL WITH COVENTRY

Goal.com -January 2009 - Exclusive: Sunil Chhetri To Go For Coventry City Trials - Dad
- Indian striker Sunil Chhetri is all set to become the third Indian player to head to Europe after having being called by Coventry City for trials, which is a second division English club.
- Speaking exclusively to Goal.com, Sunil’s father, Mr.Kharga Chhetri confirmed the news saying, “Yes, he has indeed received a call from Coventry City for trials. He (Sunil) got a call on the 16th of this month after coming back from Hong Kong and the concerned authorities informed him of the trials.”
- After Mohammed Salim played for Celtic in 1937 and football icon Bhaichung Bhutia donned the colours of English side Bury FC, the Delhi lad will be the third Indian following in their footsteps if he manages to impress in the trials.
- “He was supposed to go for the trials on the 22nd but now, he shall play the match for East Bengal on the 24th. Thereafter, he shall fly to Delhi and head to England for the trials,” informed Chhetri Senior.
- The agent who has arranged the trials for the Indian international is Middlesex based Yogesh Joshee who works for Matchworld. How and when did Sunil get in touch with this agent remains a mystery and is dad doesn’t want to speak about this. “This is something which I am not much aware of.”
- So has the news of Sunil going to England sunk in yet?
- “To be honest, I couldn’t believe it but now that it is all true, I am very happy for my son. It will be great if he manages to impress at Coventry and thereby move abroad,” said Sunil’s father who had every reason to feel proud.
- At the start of this season when Sunil signed for East Bengal from JCT, he included a clause which stated that the Kolkata giants wouldn’t create much fuss if he receives an offer from any foreign club. This has been done only in the case of Sunil and not the other players who have been linked recently...." Goal.com


A week later...
Goal.com Jan 30, 2009 - Footballer Sunil Chhetri not to play for Coventry
- New Delhi: Indian footballer Sunil Chhetri's dream of being the third Indian player to play in Europe will have to wait.
- Coventry's interest in Chetri seems to be over. He was on a one-week trial at the club and at some time, it appeared as though Chhetri stood a fair chance to be able to play for them eventually.
- But it has now emerged after the trials that Coventry are not keen on signing the East Bengal striker.
- Club Coventry is currently placed 14th in the Championship table and its management feels that Chhetri isn't the answer to their club's problems. Goal.com


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