The Tibetan Women’s soccer team suffered a heartbreak when the United States (US) embassy denied visas to the team members to travel to Texas for the Dallas Cup. after having made their mark in all the competitions in the Indian Sub-Continent, they were invited by former English League football player and manager Gordon Harold Jago to participate in the Dallas Cup, a friendly youth tournament, famous for developing and exposing young talent. They even have soccer stars like David Beckham and Wayne Rooney in their alumni list.
The team debuted in Gyalyum Chenmo Memorial Gold Cup in 2012 with coach Cassie Childers, who is a US woman footballer from New Jersey, and registered a win in their first match by 2-0. Since then, the Tibetan Women’s soccer team has participated in various tournaments in India as well as the Discover Football event 2015 held in Germany.
However, Dallas Cup would have been their biggest ever exposure to International Football but the US Visa authorities denied them Visas on grounds of having no good reason to visit the US.
Disappointed with the US embassy’s decision, Cassie Childers said “We have decided to keep going despite all of this. We will never give up and will arrange an alternative tour, to some place where Tibetans are welcome”. She further posted a video on Facebook in which the team’s captain, Jamyang Chotso expressed her gratitude for the event organisers and requesting the Visa authorities to review their decision.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK98FgVmrk8
( Video Courtesy: Jackie Skinner )
Meanwhile, it is hinted that these players were denied Visas under Section 214-B of the Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA). 214-B is almost a subjective section that leaves the decision in the hands of the individual Consular Officer at the Embassy. He has the responsibility to determine whether the person has “sufficient ties” with his/her country of origin and is “likely to return.”
Whatever, the case might be or the policies suggest, it is saddening to see that these girls have become the victims of politics and have to do away with their biggest of dreams.
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