Divided Opinions Among Football Club Officials Over Work Permits for Foreign Players
Challenges and Allegations of Favoritism Surface in Work Permit Processes for Foreign Footballers
The process of obtaining work permits for foreign football players has become a significant challenge for several clubs in the national league.
This issue is attributed to bureaucratic procedures, outstanding debts, and errors in documentation.
Reports indicate that six top-tier clubs are facing delays due to such issues.
While club officials acknowledge these challenges, some point out perceived favoritism within the immigration system.
Javier Santamaría, the sporting director of Alajuelense, shared insights on how his club managed to secure a work permit for Uruguayan goalkeeper Washington Ortega.
Santamaría credits the team's success to their experienced technical secretariat, headed by Víctor Reyes and Marvin, alongside strong legal backing.
He emphasized the importance of understanding the intricacies of the process and the necessity of thorough documentation.
Contrastingly, Wilder Eusse, president of Municipal Liberia, highlighted the complexities involved in the immigration system.
While his club has managed to navigate these challenges successfully, he suggests a provisional arrangement allowing players to compete while awaiting full documentation completion.
He noted that differing documentation standards across countries contribute to delays.
Meanwhile, San Carlos has faced more significant difficulties, struggling to register two foreign players, Enrique Villalba and Kevin Jhamal Berkeley.
According to immigration authorities, missing documents and a tax debt hindered their progress.
Carlos Acosta, sporting director of San Carlos, expressed frustration over what he perceives as inconsistent requirements, even when all obligations are reportedly met.
Acosta called for uniformity in the process, expressing the need for equal treatment across all clubs to prevent perceived partiality.
Despite compliance with various regulatory bodies, Acosta described the system as slow and cumbersome, suggesting that discrepancies in process handling across teams contribute to these issues.
As discussions continue, stakeholders emphasize the need for transparent and equitable procedures to support the integration of foreign talent in the league.
This issue is attributed to bureaucratic procedures, outstanding debts, and errors in documentation.
Reports indicate that six top-tier clubs are facing delays due to such issues.
While club officials acknowledge these challenges, some point out perceived favoritism within the immigration system.
Javier Santamaría, the sporting director of Alajuelense, shared insights on how his club managed to secure a work permit for Uruguayan goalkeeper Washington Ortega.
Santamaría credits the team's success to their experienced technical secretariat, headed by Víctor Reyes and Marvin, alongside strong legal backing.
He emphasized the importance of understanding the intricacies of the process and the necessity of thorough documentation.
Contrastingly, Wilder Eusse, president of Municipal Liberia, highlighted the complexities involved in the immigration system.
While his club has managed to navigate these challenges successfully, he suggests a provisional arrangement allowing players to compete while awaiting full documentation completion.
He noted that differing documentation standards across countries contribute to delays.
Meanwhile, San Carlos has faced more significant difficulties, struggling to register two foreign players, Enrique Villalba and Kevin Jhamal Berkeley.
According to immigration authorities, missing documents and a tax debt hindered their progress.
Carlos Acosta, sporting director of San Carlos, expressed frustration over what he perceives as inconsistent requirements, even when all obligations are reportedly met.
Acosta called for uniformity in the process, expressing the need for equal treatment across all clubs to prevent perceived partiality.
Despite compliance with various regulatory bodies, Acosta described the system as slow and cumbersome, suggesting that discrepancies in process handling across teams contribute to these issues.
As discussions continue, stakeholders emphasize the need for transparent and equitable procedures to support the integration of foreign talent in the league.
