"RACISTS" slow down Gold Coast!

[RADINHO]

Interesting Article:

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/racism-halts-gold-coast-trial-279707

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 Ghanaian government.

Palmer claimed all professional football 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."

 

[Tassiemariner]

Wow, clive gets refused something for once in his life and he resorts to use the UN charter for human rights to make some scene.
This guy really does think he chosen by some higher power.

 

[dibo]

what a load of horseshit. we've got tight rules on who can enter the country for work and they're applied rigorously. this is as it should be, and clive palmer can take a f**king seat and cop the decisions made by DIAC like everyone else has to. if someone was trying to come here from the UK and the high commissioner didn't offer an endorsement we'd be sending them on the next plane back.

 

[FFC Mariner]

I note there is no quote from the Govt or a statement of the laws that apply in this area.

Hmmm

 

[Paolo]

clive palmer can take a f**king seat and cop the decisions made

No way...clive n clive have already proved that they are men of the people

 

[FFC Mariner]

Looks forward to seeing LG/PT with us at an away game one day

 

[Jesus]

what a load of horseshit. we've got tight rules on who can enter the country for work and they're applied rigorously. this is as it should be, and clive palmer can take a f**king seat and cop the decisions made by DIAC like everyone else has to. if someone was trying to come here from the UK and the high commissioner didn't offer an endorsement we'd be sending them on the next plane back.

It is much much harder to qualify to work in australia from africa then from europe or america. Its presumably not specifically racist, just a fact that the government doesnt value the quality of african educations/trade skills the way they do western countries.

Of course you could claim that is purely to make it seem like legitimate cause, rather than being overtly racist.

I guess depends on your level or cynicism as to how you see it.

Personally, seeing some of the news articles about the "problems" cause by and for african imigrants and their attempts to settle, I would think it fair to say that it is based at least partially on those public perceptions, without being overt and looking bad in the eyes of the world

 

[dibo]

much of the migration intake is tilted to skilled migration. there are complex processes of skills recognition and whatnot. it's no bad thing that it's hard to get your skills recognised, whether it's too hard for some is open for debate.

what is very hard to get is a spot as an unskilled migrant. if you don't have skills and you're not going to have much chance of making an economic contribution then your chances of getting in are not great.

of course, all of this has bugger all to do with football - this bloke has applied for entry and it seems that the ghanaian government haven't endorsed his applications. that's only ever going to end one way.

 

[midfielder]

I think CP has a point regarding football players .... But I actually think everyone is scared CP will eat him ... his belly keeps getting bigger all the time...

 

[Jesus]

much of the migration intake is tilted to skilled migration. there are complex processes of skills recognition and whatnot. it's no bad thing that it's hard to get your skills recognised, whether it's too hard for some is open for debate.

what is very hard to get is a spot as an unskilled migrant. if you don't have skills and you're not going to have much chance of making an economic contribution then your chances of getting in are not great.

of course, all of this has bugger all to do with football - this bloke has applied for entry and it seems that the ghanaian government haven't endorsed his applications. that's only ever going to end one way.

It should be no harder to bring in a Ghanaian player for a trial than an englishman. The only thing required should be the fifa transfer certificate saying he is free to leave his old club. 

 

[dibo]

much of the migration intake is tilted to skilled migration. there are complex processes of skills recognition and whatnot. it's no bad thing that it's hard to get your skills recognised, whether it's too hard for some is open for debate.

what is very hard to get is a spot as an unskilled migrant. if you don't have skills and you're not going to have much chance of making an economic contribution then your chances of getting in are not great.

of course, all of this has bugger all to do with football - this bloke has applied for entry and it seems that the ghanaian government haven't endorsed his applications. that's only ever going to end one way.

It should be no harder to bring in a Ghanaian player for a trial than an englishman. The only thing required should be the fifa transfer certificate saying he is free to leave his old club. 

and it probably wouldn't be, if his government came to the party and endorsed the application.

 

[Jimmy]

Looks forward to seeing LG/PT with us at an away game one day

Mrs Gorman joined us in Season one.

 

[dibo]

turnbull came down and mingled with the peeps at the match against blacktown at gabbie stadium too. he did some do in the kendall not long after.

lyall used to do a walk around in front of bay 16 most matches as well.

 

[Jesus]

much of the migration intake is tilted to skilled migration. there are complex processes of skills recognition and whatnot. it's no bad thing that it's hard to get your skills recognised, whether it's too hard for some is open for debate.

what is very hard to get is a spot as an unskilled migrant. if you don't have skills and you're not going to have much chance of making an economic contribution then your chances of getting in are not great.

of course, all of this has bugger all to do with football - this bloke has applied for entry and it seems that the ghanaian government haven't endorsed his applications. that's only ever going to end one way.

It should be no harder to bring in a Ghanaian player for a trial than an englishman. The only thing required should be the fifa transfer certificate saying he is free to leave his old club. 

and it probably wouldn't be, if his government came to the party and endorsed the application.

And asuming it is as easy to get these things done in some countries as others.

But that is the point.

 

[dibo]

oh come now. are you suggesting we should take someone *on a working visa* whose application wasn't endorsed by their own government? we're not talking about someone applying for asylum, we're talking about a pretty reasonable government too - about as stable as you get for sub-saharan africa. it's not sudan or even nigeria we're talking about here. if the government can't/won't endorse it that's not really our problem.

 

[FFC Mariner]

Sorta drifted in and out of this thread but do I understand that:

I know the Fat f**k was a staffer for Joh and has no great love of the current regime but how the f**k is this anything to do with Australia?

The kid needs a letter from his home Govt and doesnt have one. Quite where is this our fault exactly?

Hey Clive, maybe the Ghanaian Govt brought in the rule to stop fat capitalists raping Africa of young footballers?

(Or have I missed the point?)

 

[dibo]

Ooh, batten down the hatches, here comes the other side of the story:

FFT - Immigration Slams Palmer

Staff Writer
Jan 20 2010 20:01

THE GOVERNMENT has refuted Clive Palmer's claim their 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 told Press Association Sport.

"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."

Copyright (c) 2009 Press Association

So he hasn't had his application endorsed yet and this is preventing his entry not because of the Australian Government's racism, but instead because of the Ghanaian Government's own request that the rules be tightened up to prevent immigration fraud.

Big bad Australian Government indeed. Had they ignored the Ghanaian Govenment's requests wouldn't we be just a big bad bunch of imperialists plundering the wealth of Africa to enrich our own already (comparatively) wealthy clubs who can't/won't produce their own talent, etc.?

 

[FFC Mariner]

Just like Arsenal and Chavski then?

 

[Jerem]

id put it
PALMER'S  SLOW DOWN THE GOLD COAST
was talkin to a few GCU fans on friday, they dont like a bar of the big man,
and want him out

 

[FFC Mariner]

Fold Coast fans are really earning their tag as complete wankers arent they?

f**k off their billionaire owner who is funding c**tboys wages.

you know what? I think I hate them more than the scum