Red Bulls striker Rodgers denied visa
Reuters - Friday 30 March 2012, 19:51
English forward Luke Rodgers, who spent
last season with the New York Red Bulls, has been forced to
leave the Major League Soccer club after U.S. immigration
authorities denied him a visa.
The 30-year-old lodged an appeal after his initial
application was rejected but when the appeal failed, it was
agreed to end his contract.
"After going through the entire immigration and appeals
process, Luke's P-1 Visa application has unfortunately been
denied by the U.S. government for now," the Red Bulls said in a
statement.
"We have spoken with Luke about potential options and have
mutually decided that it would be in all parties' best interests
to terminate his current MLS contract so he could play
elsewhere."
Rodgers, who played in England for lower league clubs
Shrewsbury Town, Port Vale and Notts County, scored nine goals
in 20 regular season starts for New York, where he played
alongside former Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry.
New York said they remained open to a possible return should
they find a solution to the visa problem.
"We will also continue to track his progress this year while
working with immigration officials with the goal that he could
join the Red Bulls sometime in the future," the club said.