Reports | Omid Singh yet to decide on giving up Iranian passport
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According to a TOI report, footballer Omid Singh is yet to decide to give up his Iranian passport to obtain an Indian one to be eligible to play for India. A senior AIFF official has also said that the federation will help Omid out in obtaining an Indian passport as per his decision.
With Indian football coach Igor Stimac wanting to add Iranian footballer Omid Singh into the Indian football team. Now, the big step is going to be taken by the Indian origin player himself. India doesn’t allow a person to have a dual passport and in order to obtain an Indian one, Omid will have to do away with the Iranian passport.
"It's a huge call for Omid. Certainly, he is a good player who could strengthen the India team but he must decide whether he wants to give up his Iranian passport and take up an Indian one. It's a cumbersome process and may take 15 months. If he makes up his mind, we can help him by speeding up the process," a senior AIFF official told TOI on Tuesday.
"Based on what he has heard, Stimac believes Omid can be an asset but we have to know what the player thinks. Stimac will not be here forever, and just because he has changed his passport (from Iranian to Indian), we cannot guarantee him a place in the Indian team. That can happen only on merit," said the official, adding that his wife is an Iranian.
Omid’s father is Punjabi while his mother is Iranian and he plays in the Iran Pro League for Nassaji FC. As per reports, the AIFF has already started discussing the passport issue with the manager of Omid.
