Jayapura, Jubi – Pahang FC Club have been forced to return to Malaysia after its foreign players were refused entry, putting an AFC Cup match with Persipura Jayapura scheduled for Tuesday (26/5/2015) at Mandala Stadium in jeopardy.
Pahang CEO Fahrizal Hasan said on Twitter on Monday morning (24/5/2015): ” Three foreign players were detained by immigration and deported while other players must stay at the airport last night. So disappointed with PSSI (Indonesian Football Association)!”
Pahang FC secretary Fuzeime Ibrahim said the Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur had earlier promised the players on arrival.
“The application documents concerning visa arrangements for our four foreign players, namely Dickson Nwakaema (Nigeria), Damian Stewart (Jamaica), Zesh Rahman (Pakistan) and Matias Conti (Argentina), were submitted to the Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur on 18 May 2015. From here, the embassy promised everything will be fine and the immigration will issue visa on Arrival,” Ibrahim told reporters in Jakarta.
Meanwhile, Persipura’s spokesperson Rocky Bebena said Persipura had sent a letter to BOPI (Indonesian Professional Sport Body) for visa applications. “We had the letter of reply from BOPI but without the number of letter, stamp and signature of the chairman. We finally sent back the letter via email and got the second completed letter of reply,” said Bebena.
He questioned why the incident had happened to Pahang FC since BOPI sent the recommendation letter for Persipura at the same day with the recommendation letter for Persib Bandung. The fact is the guest of Persib Bandung had no problem with their visa arrangements.
In separate place, BOPI staff for Organization Affairs, Rubby Saputra said Persipura has emailed them concerning visa arrangement for their guests on Friday (22/05) at 16:00 Jakarta time, two hours late from Persib Bandung. “But in principle, both applications are approved,” he said as cited by goal.com.
He also admitted that on Saturday (23/05) at 15:00 Jakarta time, he resent the recommendation for Pesipura because there’s a technical mistake with the first letter, sending without a signature of the Chairman of BOPI. (Victor Mambor/rom)
