'Racism' halts Gold Coast United trial

[Migration Help]

January 18, 2010

Outspoken Gold Coast United owner Clive Palmer on Monday slammed the Australian government's immigration policies as "racist" after a youngster from Ghana was denied a chance to trial with the A-League club.

The United chairman was also unhappy with the Ghanian government.

Palmer claimed all professional soccer players from Ghana wishing to play for Australian clubs were required to obtain a letter from their country's Ministry of Youth and Sport providing permission to visit.

"Without the agreement of the Ghanaian government, Australian visas for these players are being refused," Palmer said in a statement.

"The Australian government issues visas, without the same requirements, to players coming from Europe and other white countries.

"This is a gross violation of the United Nations charter and the human rights of the players concerned when a non-democratic government is required to provide information about an individual and can veto the visa application of a soccer player to a free and democratic nation like Australia.

"Everybody needs to know that if a football player from Ghana shows enough potential to become a professional elsewhere, then the Ghanaian government may not approve their visa application."

He compared the "artificial requirements" placed on the issuing of visas with those of the old White Australia policy.

"The Prime Minister and Minister for Immigration need to take immediate action to expunge these racist policies and conditions that are designed to block black Africans from coming to Australia," Palmer said.

"One would have thought that the White Australia policy was dead and buried, but it seems that the Ghanaian High Commissioner and his office in Nairobi are seeking to resurrect it in conjunction with the Australian Immigration Minister.

"The coaches at our club are more than capable of providing the embassy with confirmation regarding the playing ability of these players and the fact that we want to enter into a professional contract with the player.

"Instead of accepting the judgement of Australians, these minions at the embassy would rather rely on what the Department of Youth and Sport in Ghana says.

"The behaviour of the Immigration Department in dealing with Ghanaian footballers is a national disgrace and the club is investigating the matter further so that the Australian government can be brought to account."

SOURCE (http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/racism-halts-gold-coast-united-trial-20100118-mgmq.html)

MH

[Migration Help]

January 20, 2010

Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship has refuted Clive Palmer's claim the country's immigration policy is ''racist'', after the Gold Coast United chairman launched a scathing attack over the case of a Ghanaian trialist.

Palmer blasted the Australian government's immigration policy after he insisted the unnamed Ghanaian was refused an entry visa into the country, and likened the decision to deny the player the chance to earn a contract at the A-League club as a return to the ''white Australia policy'' that came to an end in the 1970s.

However, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship revealed the player had not in fact been stopped from entering the country and that his case is still under consideration.

''This person has not been refused a visa,'' a spokesperson said. ''He has been asked for documentation to support his application. A decision on his visa application is yet to be made.

''The decision to grant or refuse a visa will be made in accordance with the law and will take into account the individual's circumstances and all relevant criteria relating to the grant of the visa.''

The Department also hit back at Palmer's accusation that their policies were racist, insisting each application was decided purely on a case by case basis.

''Our visa and migration programs are not racist or discriminatory,'' the spokesperson added. ''The Australian Government makes no apology for taking a risk-based approach to its migration program.

''Different integrity measures apply to applicants from different countries for a wide range of visa subclasses. The integrity measures are based on the risk of immigration fraud and are adjusted from time to time.

''The policies and integrity measures it applies to all visa subclasses are in accordance with Australia's international legal obligations.''

That Ghanaian sportsmen and women require their visa applications to be supported by the Ghanaian Ministry of Youth and Sport also drew Palmer's ire. But it was in fact the African government who approached its Australian counterpart to introduce extra measures for sportspeople travelling to the country after a number of immigration fraud attempts.

''In September 2009, following a number of well-organised incidents of immigration fraud by Ghanaian sportspeople, the government of Ghana expressed its concern about its international sporting reputation and the ability of legitimate Ghanaian sports people to get visas in countries like Australia,'' the spokesperson continued. ''In co-operation with the Australian Government, it was agreed visa applications from sportspeople from Ghana would require vetting from their relevant national sporting bodies and a letter of support from the Ghanaian Ministry for Youth and Sport.

''Similar integrity measures are in place for sportspeople from other countries including Kenya and Ethiopia. There are also strengthened integrity measures for eVisa applicants from Romania and Bulgaria because they are identified as high-risk countries.''

SOURCE (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=728332&sec=australia&cc=3436)

MH