Visas sorted for World Cup match

The Gôl charity is visiting orphanages on the way to Azerbaijan

Only a handful of Wales players are now waiting for visas to Azerbaijan after delays put the match under threat.

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) had accused the Azeri authorities of "dragging their feet" over visas for the World Cup qualifier on Saturday.

The problem appeared to be a rule change now requiring visitors to be formally "invited" to the country.

An FAW spokesperson said the paperwork for two or three players was expected to be sorted out at the airport.

"We've got to get a couple of visas at the airport for those whose passports came in later. We're told that won't be a problem," said the spokesperson.

After all the visa problems, the fans would like to say thank you to the Welsh FA Paul Corkery, Football Supporters' Federation Cymru

"We got Fifa [world football's governing body] involved and we made the point we weren't getting anywhere very fast with it and clearly the game itself was under threat.

"We wouldn't have travelled if we had only had half the players' visas.

"Once a bit of pressure was put on by Fifa and the Home Office got involved, it was grudgingly all resolved."

The Azeri embassy in London had said there had been "technical problems" which had caused delays in issuing visas.

A spokesman said a new system for visas had been introduced in Azerbaijan which required an invitation for visitors to be approved by the ministry of foreign affairs.

Visiting orphanages

Football Supporters' Federation Cymru secretary Paul Corkery said after much hassle, the Wales fans travelling were all due to receive their visas before departure.

More than 70 Wales supporters are due to travel the 2,500 miles to Baku, including a group of 25 fans who are travelling by road and visiting orphanages along the way.

These fans, on a trip organised by Welsh football supporters' charity Gôl, left on 22 May and are currently in Georgia before crossing the border into Azerbaijan later in the week.

Mr Corkery said the FAW had agreed to pay for match tickets for all the Wales fans attending the game as a goodwill gesture.

"After all the visa problems, the fans would like to say thank you to the Welsh FA," said Mr Corkery.