Footballer and Russian citizen, Gael Ondoua was unable to obtain an entry visa from UK authorities ahead of tonight’s Champions League qualifier with Rangers at Ibrox.
The Cameroon international grew up in Russia
and made headlines during last year’s World Cup by wearing the country’s flag
on his boots.
Russian footballer denied a visa to play in
the Champions League against Rangers in Glasgow tonight after he made
pro-Russia statements during the war in Ukraine
Ondoua plays for Swiss club Servette, who are
already missing seven players due to injury and suspension ahead of their first
leg clash.
At last night’s media conference, Servette
officials would not go into details but released a statement saying the club
‘deplores this situation and supports its player and his team, which will have
to deal without a major player in its workforce for non-sporting reasons’.
It also confirmed the club had spent two
weeks trying to find a solution and had enlisted the SFA’s help.
Ondoua becomes the eighth Servette player
ruled out of tonight’s game.
Striker Enzo Crivelli is banned after being
sent off in last week’s win over Genk, a match in which first-choice goalkeeper
Jeremy Frick was also injured.
Right-back Keigo Tsunemoto is out for a
month, while his back-up, Theo Magnin, is also sidelined. Miroslav Stevanovic,
Alexis Antunes and Alexander Lyng are all missing through injury.
Weiler said: ‘These players are important for
us but I don’t want to spend much time talking about those who can’t play. I’m
always confident in my team’s ability.’
He expects his team to embrace the atmosphere
inside Ibrox and drew a comparison with his experience of Old Trafford.
‘It’s a motivation for our players,’ he said
when asked about playing in front of 50,000 Rangers fans. ‘They must stay
focused and deliver a good performance but they should enjoy it. It’s the first
time for some of them and an amazing opportunity.
‘I’ve had a few experiences like that. It’s
an honour to be here. Like that game against Manchester United, this will be a
high-level encounter.
‘It’s something I appreciate about British
football, the atmosphere, and I know that goes for my players.’
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