Alarms were raised for basketball fans on Tuesday after Sports Minister Mervin Maldonado reported that the men’s team had no visa to travel to Canada to start the fifth window of the World Championship. FIBA.
Through his Twitter account, Maldonado blamed the Canadian government and assured that the delay in the procedures is a “flagrant violation of international regulations on visas for athletes”.
“More than 2 months ago, through the Venezuelan Basketball Federation, they duly requested the necessary visa to participate in this window,” the minister explained.
“Less than 24 hours from the deadline, THE VISAS HAVE NOT YET BEEN ISSUED”, he underlined.
Read also: Venezuela are preparing for the fifth window of the World Cup
After Maldonado’s statement, the FVB confirmed that the selection “awaits a response from the Canadian consulate in Bogotá”.
“The FVB carried out the corresponding Canadian visa application process within the established deadlines and through the established channels, with the support of FIBA”, detailed the Federation.
“The route to Edmonton, Canada should have started last Monday, November 7, when the plane tickets were purchased… We deeply regret this situation,” they added.
The Venezuelan basketball team, which is 7-1 and second in Group E, is scheduled to face Canada (8-0) at the Edmonton Expo Center on November 10.
Later, they will face the Dominican Republic (5-3) at the Palacio de los Deportes in Santo Domingo.
The Venezuelan basketball team is seeking to qualify for its fourth World Cup, the second in a row.
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