Subrata Dutta today officially told that they have applied to the government to allow PIOs to play for INDIA. Source Interview of Mr. Dutta in Extra time @news time bangla
Okay but what if the government refuse their request for PIOs in NT as a temporary solution for future matches? There should be a full scale national debate on this PIO issue.
TV shows like The Newshour, NDTV We the People etc are seen by the whole nation.
For all those people thinking that petition to Indian Government that they can allow OCI card holder to represent India, there is a bigger problem. Even if India Government says yes, FIFA will say NOOOOOO. OCI card holder is a foreign national-they do not posess India Passport. FIFA is strict with passport rule. A player cannot just play with OCI card or PIO Card. http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup/story/2438612/fifa-to-require-passports-before-world-cup-qualifiers
Stephen Constantine and Michael Chopra can fill tobacco and make cigarette and smoke their PIO or OCI card as far as FIFA is concerned. They are not eligible unless they become India citizen and leave their Foreign passport like what Izumi Arata did.
@jees_jose Only 2 players play with USL clubs. 2 with NASL. 1 in MLS. 4 with college teams and also play USL PDL, 4th division, which is strict semi-pro.
The PIOs have played certain years at EU leagues. That will help them to get work permit afterwards if they surrender their foreign passport. What Indian government really can do is to speed up the procedure of issuing new Indian passport to PIOs who wish to get it to play for the NT.
If your spouse / parents retain their foreign passport then it will not be that tough to get in. Also it's not tough for them to find a job there / football expert in India / commentator / agent / coach / management and so on.
Indian standard of living is nowhere on world level. So, thoughts about a long league with good upcoming foreign youth players is a distant dream. SORRY but this is the reality.
Comments
http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup/story/2438612/fifa-to-require-passports-before-world-cup-qualifiers
Read page 16 also
http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/59/22/68/regulationsfwc2018russia_short_e_v210415_neutral.pdf
Stephen Constantine and Michael Chopra can fill tobacco and make cigarette and smoke their PIO or OCI card as far as FIFA is concerned. They are not eligible unless they become India citizen and leave their Foreign passport like what Izumi Arata did.