Indian footballer Aditi Chauhan faces deportation from UK over visa problems
London: Indian woman footballer Aditi Chauhan, who plays as a goalkeeper for English side West Ham United Ladies, is facing deportation as she cannot renew her visa due to rules and regulations of the Football Association.
The 22-year-old made history by becoming the first woman from the Indian national team to play in the English League four months ago. But now she is likely to return to India due to visa problems, ‘The Telegraph’ has reported.
Last year, Aditi came to Britain on a student visa to pursue a Master’s degree in sports management from Loughborough University and began giving trials with clubs in the women’s leagues like Millwall Lionesses, a second division club. However, she could not join the club due to the FA rules.
According to the rules of the FA — English football’s governing body — a player on a student visa cannot join a club in the top two tiers of women’s football. Thereafter, she signed a one-year deal with third division team, West Ham United Ladies.
Aditi’s student visa is about to expire and even though the team had planned to sponsor her for a work visa, she cannot apply for a work visa through the club as West Ham are in the third tier and classed as semi-professional.
“There is nothing to do but laugh at it,” Aditi told The Telegraph.
“I was not allowed to play in the first or second division at first, but now I’m not allowed to play in any divisions but those. It’s just ridiculous and stupid,” she added.
She doubts if a male footballer faces any such problem. "The men's clubs have more money and they can afford to sponsor visas. I don't think they have problems like this, but for women footballers, it's just a bit more difficult. I've never heard of a male footballer in my situation," she noted.
Check out: When Aditi Chauhan rubbed shoulders with Salman, Aamir and Hrithik
“The rules are the same for both gender, but because financially it might be a bigger issues for women’s clubs, that’s when it becomes more difficult. The women’s clubs aren’t exactly very rich. Financially it can be a burden for them,” she said.
As of now, 23-year-old Aditi is still hoping that West Ham will be able to sort out a visa for her but if it doesn’t work out, she’ll have to go home to India where she plays on the international women’s team and look out for another option.
“It’s difficult for me to realise I might have to go back and leave my playing career in the UK. I was having a good time here and I’m improving with every game. I feel like I can do a lot better and I have the potential to still improve a lot more. I’m trying to keep my fingers crossed and be positive.
“If I do have to go back, I’ll apply for a visa from there. But if nothing works out, I’ll probably go to some other country like Australia and carry on playing football there. I don’t want to stop playing football. It doesn’t matter where I go – I just want to play football.”
Aditi recently became the first Indian woman to win an award at Asian Football Awards for her time with West Ham Ladies. "This award is all worth it. Getting this award at Wembley is a fairytale, especially for some one who comes from a country that has no league for women. It was not easy to pursue a career in football. I am thankful to West Ham and my family for all the support," she was quoted as saying in a leading daily.
Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.
