'Ridiculous and stupid': Indian footballer Aditi Chauhan faces deportation from UK over visa problems

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. [caption id=“attachment_2396612” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  India’s goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan in action. Courtesy: Aditi’s Twitter[/caption] 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. Aditi had recently become 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 had told Times of India. Agencies