Breaking News:Hamza Igamane passport mystery at Rangers as visa explanation falls flat after Malmo absence
Hamza Igamane’s absence from the Rangers squad to face Malmo upset Philippe Clement but ultimately didn’t hold back the side as they recorded an uplifting 2-0 victory.
The cause of the “passport issues” which kept the striker from travelling [4 Lads Had A Dream, 26 September] remains a mystery, with the window available to acquire a visa between the draw and the match seemingly sufficient.
Rangers Review journalist Derek Clark shared visa information via X on 27 September for visiting Sweden which say Moroccan citizens must apply for a Schengen visa “at least 16 calendar days” before the trip via the embassy or consulate of the main country visited, suggesting there wasn’t enough time to do so.
Philippe Clement not happy to be without Rangers striker
This would explain Igamane’s unavailability last night. https://t.co/sKshlhUJfp
— Derek Clark (@derekclarksport) September 27, 2024
Hamza Igamane’s visa requirements kept him from travelling with Rangers.
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He wrote: “This would explain Igamane’s unavailability last night”.
However, Rangers knew they were facing Malmo away on 31 August when the fixtures were confirmed, and since according to VFS Global the processing time “can take up to 15 days” that is well within the 26 days the club had.
On the checklist for acquiring a professional visa to visit Sweden as a Moroccan citizen it states that the passport must be valid for “at least three months after the expiry date of the visa containing at least two blank pages”.
So it is possible that Igamane, 21, arrived in Scotland this summer after his July transfer from AS FAR with just enough months or pages available in his passport but since then it is now either too full or too close to expiry.
Rangers Philippe Clement
Rangers manager Philippe Clement wasn’t happy with be without Hamza Igamane.
Chris Jack admitted he was surprised that Clement hadn’t revealed the striker was out of the squad in his pre-match press conference [Rangers Review, 27 September], and if it is for a reason as basic as the regulations seem to suggest it might explain why.
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