Monday, August 06, 2007
Footballers go missing in Denmark
Fifteen footballers who took part in the Homeless World Cup in Denmark have left their teams and gone missing, police and organisers say.
Seven of the missing players are from Burundi, four from Liberia, three from Cameroon and one from Afghanistan.
The men had entry visas that expired on Monday. Danish police say they will be arrested and deported if found.
The men may already have left Denmark as their visas allowed them to travel within the 15 European countries in the Schengen borderless travel area, Danish immigration authorities say.
Five hundred players from 48 countries took part in this year's tournament, which was held on miniature pitches in the Danish capital, Copenhagen.
The organisers said they were "upset and angry" at the players' disappearance.
"This is our fifth tournament and we've never had this experience before," said Kat Byles, a spokeswoman for the Homeless World Cup.
"We want to review the situation and put new measures in place to ensure this doesn't affect the positive impact of the tournament."
Seven of the missing players are from Burundi, four from Liberia, three from Cameroon and one from Afghanistan.
The men had entry visas that expired on Monday. Danish police say they will be arrested and deported if found.
The men may already have left Denmark as their visas allowed them to travel within the 15 European countries in the Schengen borderless travel area, Danish immigration authorities say.
Five hundred players from 48 countries took part in this year's tournament, which was held on miniature pitches in the Danish capital, Copenhagen.
The organisers said they were "upset and angry" at the players' disappearance.
"This is our fifth tournament and we've never had this experience before," said Kat Byles, a spokeswoman for the Homeless World Cup.
"We want to review the situation and put new measures in place to ensure this doesn't affect the positive impact of the tournament."
