Former national football team captain IM Vijayan had a ticket for the semi-finals, but the consulate found his bank balance ‘inadequate’.
CHENNAI: Arjuna Award winner and former national football team captain IM Vijayan, who was planning to watch the semi finals of the World Cup, has been denied visa by the German consulate. Vijayan, who appeared for the visa interview at the German consulate in Chennai on Monday, was informed the next day that visa could not be issued since his “bank balance was not impressive.”
“I was planning to leave for Germany on July 4 to watch the semi final matches. I mentioned Rs50,000 as my bank balance in my application form. I don’t know if they thought I would settle down with some football organisation there and never return,” Vijayan told DNA. He had gone to Japan to watch the last World Cup final between Brazil and Germany.
Learning about his winning the Arjuna Award in 2003 and his association with leading football clubs in India, the visa officer asked Vijayan which was his favourite team in the World Cup, to which he replied, Argentina. To another question, he replied Brazil’s Ronaldhinho was his favourite player. “She even chatted with me on Beckham’s great free kick,” the striker said.
He complained that the counsulate had no concern for people coming from far off places for a visa. “I had to wait from 5 am to 2 pm without food or water. I have been to foreign countries many times and have clean credentials. I don’t know if they found my dark complexion and ragged looks inadmissible,” said Vijayan, who had also acted in a few Malayalam movies.
All hopes, however, have not been dashed for Vijayan. It is learnt that office bearers of the All India Football Federation has taken up the matter with the German consulate and Vijayan has been asked to re-apply for a visa. “I will apply again on Thursday. I can’t afford to miss the opportunity,” he said. Kerala-based Nandilath Group of Companies, for which Vijayan is the brand ambassador, is sponsoring his Germany visit.
An illustrious career
- Winner of Arjuna Award in 2003
- Player of the Year in 1992, 1997 and 2000
- One of the best strikers Indian football has produced
- Played for clubs like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and JCT Mills
- Scored a goal within 12 seconds of kick-off in the 1990 SAF Games against Bhutan
- Made his debut as an actor, in the Malayalam movie 'Santham,' and acted in four more films
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