DUNDEE UNITED yesterday received confirmation that attempts to have the rejection of Jason Scotland’s work permit renewal application overturned have failed.
Fully 10 days after Scotland’s short-term visa expired, forcing him to leave the country, United were formally advised that the player’s Tannadice career is over.
Courier Sport had revealed that the Home Office were poised to ratify the original decision reached by a review panel.
And last night lawyers acting for the club wrote to the Home Office asking them to reconsider that stance but there seems little prospect of Scotland being allowed to return to the UK.
In the letter to the Home Office, United have:
Pointed out that comments made on radio by Murdo McLeod—a member of the six-man panel responsible for the original ruling—explaining the basis on which the decision was reached were at odds with the official explanation provided.
Challenged the Home Office’s assertion that they knew of the make-up of the panel in advance, insisting they were aware of the identity of only three of its members.
Queried why the SFA’s representative on the panel, Tommy McIntyre, was appointed only on the morning of the hearing.
They have also voiced unhappiness that MPs who backed Scotland’s case had been advised of the Home Office decision as early as July 21 when they had to wait until August 1 to be informed of it.
Chairman Eddie Thompson said last night, “We are not terribly impressed by the Home Office’s handling of this matter and have asked them, in light of the various points we are making, whether they might look at the case again.
“We believe it is very important that justice is seen to be done.
“We are both disappointed and angry with this decision.
“We explained our concerns to the Home Office, particularly the make-up of the panel (United are incensed that five of the members have connections with one club, Hibs) and subsequent comments made by members of the panel on the matter, but to no avail.
“The Home Office judgment, based on the recommendation of the review panel, states that Jason Scotland’s appeal had been refused as he ‘was not of the highest calibre and would not make a significant contribution to the Scottish game.’
“It appears that, in the judgment of the review panel, he was not good enough for Scottish football.
“This is after he helped take United to the Scottish Cup final and into Europe and had been the subject of interest from numerous other Scottish clubs.
“Just what did he have to do to prove that he was good enough for Scottish football?
“And putting aside the loss of a player to United, we must think of the effect on the individual’s life.
“From being valued by his employer and having a well-paid career, a home and partner, he has now been told he is no longer wanted here. One can only imagine how he must feel.
“When you add to this the work he did to help race relations in the community while in Scotland, one can only wonder how this situation came about.
“We are frankly astonished that he has been treated in this way and sincerely hope that lessons will be learned to avoid this happening again in the future.
“One can only hope that by us bringing Jason’s case to everyone’s attention, no other individual will have to suffer the same fate, whether he be a footballer or otherwise.”
Scotland’s employment by United was thrown into doubt because he failed to meet the work permit requirement of having featured in 70% of his country’s international matches.
The Tangerines claimed this situation had arisen not through lack of ability but because former Trinidad and Tobago coach Bertille St Clair had decided not to select the player owing to a dispute over his hairstyle.
They provided testimony from two of Scotland’s international team-mates supporting that assertion.
McLeod has since stated St Clair denied Scotland was overlooked because of his hair, thereby undermining the Tannadice outfit’s case.
But, to the club’s bemusement, they have not been provided with any evidence of St Clair disputing the hair claim.
One thing United did learn yesterday was that the original decision was reached on a 5-1 vote.
It’s understood the solitary supporter of Scotland’s cause was SPL secretary Ian Blair.