Footballers grounded by Canada visa rules

Canada’s tough new visa restrictions for the Czech Republic last week had many travellers and government officials in uproar. The bad blood between the two countries over the Canada visa decision has now moved to the sports field.

Those who help run Czech Football  are worried that junior players will be affected by the new visa rules, fearing that young talent will now find getting to play and forge a career in Noth America now more difficult.

Meanwhile, a Czech cycling team had to get on their proverbial bikes and head over to Vienna, Austria to apply for their visas last minute – and that meant cancelling a practice session.

Canada’s reputation continues to skate on thin ice in the Eastern European country as hockey, one of the Czech’s most popular sports, has also suffered. Players and management have been quoted in the press expressing concern that the ruling requiring a visa for Canada will have knock-on effects for both players who play in Canada and their families.

All in all,  the government’s clampdown on Canadian immigration seems to be viewed as a rather unsporting decision by many Czechs.

Who will blow the final whistle on the spat bewteen the two countries?