Afghanistan Women’s Refugee Players Refused Visas For First Tournament In Uae

The United Arab Emirates rejected visa applications for members of nan Afghanistan women’s exile squad who were owed to recreation location for nan team’s first matches. Players went to airports, but were told not to committee flights and galore are said to person felt retraumatised by nan experience.

Afghanistan had been owed to play successful nan UAE against Chad and Libya successful nan Fifa Unites: Women’s Series, pinch games moving from coming to Wednesday. The 23 players selected via talent recognition camps for nan team, Afghan Women United, were owed to alert to Dubai connected 11 October for a training camp.

The players, located successful Australia, nan UK, Portugal and Italy, were advised by Fifa to spell to their airports contempt their visas not having been obtained. They were past told by world football’s governing assemblage they could not committee flights.

Players, galore of whom fled Afghanistan successful highly dangerously situations via Kabul airdrome arsenic nan last occidental subject flights prepared to time off aft nan withdrawal of US and different troops successful 2021, had been successful a authorities of uncertainty, encouraged to stay fresh to recreation astatine a moment’s notice. It is understood Fifa remained successful interaction pinch nan players during this time.

Fifa announced connected Monday that it was relocating nan title to Morocco, pinch nan first lucifer – involving Afghanistan – moved to Sunday. Responsibility for visa applications for travelling teams lies pinch nan big federation and it is understood Fifa sought assurances connected visas earlier it announced connected 24 September that nan UAE would big nan tournament.

Many players person felt triggered and retraumatised by nan insecurity of nan business and parallels pinch their evacuation. It is understood they consciousness mentally and physically drained and are concerned they are expected to play their first lucifer truthful soon aft arriving successful Morocco. They flew connected Wednesday, pinch nan Australia-based players facing much than 30 hours of travel, and consciousness fto down by nan organisation astir nan squad and tournament

Fifa said: “We admit that nan circumstances, which are owed to factors extracurricular of Fifa’s control, whitethorn person been difficult and had an effect connected immoderate players and staff. As has been nan lawsuit passim this task truthful far, nan use and wellbeing of each players and unit has, and continues to be, nan paramount privilege to Fifa.

“We are continuing to activity connected a regular basis, together pinch nan players and staff, to guarantee they are afloat supported connected and disconnected nan transportation done tailored safeguarding and wellbeing services that are being offered to nan team.”

The UAE Football Association did not respond to requests for comment. The UAE has a de facto moving narration pinch nan Taliban authorities successful Afghanistan.

Regarding nan move to Morocco, Fifa said: “This alteration of venue follows last-minute unforeseen challenges knowledgeable that impacted recreation arrangements of participating teams. The determination to move nan bid has been taken to guarantee each teams are capable to participate successful a safe, inclusive and competitory environment, aligned pinch nan values of nan tourney and nan pioneering and wide-ranging Fifa strategy for action for Afghan women’s football.”

Fifa founded and committed support to nan exile squad successful consequence to persistent unit from exiled members of nan Afghanistan women’s nationalist squad and younker teams for nan correct to play world shot aft nan Taliban’s return to power.

Fifa said it had provided “continuous broad attraction and support to nan players, some connected and disconnected nan pitch” since nan motorboat of nan exile team. “This includes a dedicated safeguarding squad who person actively supported nan group passim nan project, arsenic good arsenic beingness mentation and nutrition, each delivered by highly credentialed qualified professionals successful their respective fields,” it said. “The players person had ongoing entree to nan team’s sports psychologist, arsenic good arsenic a chap Afghan exile pinch lived experience, including arsenic a resettlement coach.”

Fifa besides pointed to further measures it made available. “These included 2 group sessions led by a highly knowledgeable trauma-informed scientist to assistance players process nan business and fortify their coping strategies. A abstracted convention was besides conducted pinch squad unit to heighten their knowing of trauma-informed approaches and guarantee they were equipped pinch nan correct devices and connection to support nan players effectively.”