Football: UK Defends Visa Ban On PSG's Aurier

Football: UK defends visa ban on PSG's Aurier

LONDON, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Nov, 2016 ) : The British government on Tuesday defended its ban on Paris Saint-Germain defender Serge Aurier from entering the country for his team's Champions League clash with Arsenal, saying it was following "clearly stated" rules.

The French champions said they were "stunned" by the interior ministry's decision to deny the Ivory Coast defender a visa for Wednesday's clash due to his September conviction for assaulting a police officer outside a Paris nightclub.

"Mr Aurier received a two month custodial sentence in September for assaulting a police officer," Britain's Home Office said in a statement. "The immigration rules clearly state that non-EU nationals who have received a custodial sentence of less than 12 months within the last five years will be refused on criminality grounds.

" PSG said they were only informed of the final decision on Tuesday lunchtime, calling it "a flagrant lack of respect for the club".

"After an initial application on October 18, complete with all the necessary documents, the British authorities had originally granted Paris Saint-Germain's Ivory Coast international an entry visa to the UK on October 21," PSG said.

"However, on November 16, his visa was finally revoked by the British Ministry of the Interior, who justified their about-face by citing Aurier's conviction."