(this from Soccernet today) - NEWS Thursday, January 25, 2001 Meet Nobby Solano, the Peruvian Greek By Martin Lipton, Ian Ladyman and Steve Curry

SPECIAL REPORT: Nolberto Solano was born on December 12, 1974 in the Peruvian coffee town of Callao, just north of the capital Lima. Solano: A Peruvian Greek (MichaelSteele/Allsport) He is married to a Peruvian beauty queen and has earned both riches and reputation as his abilities have seen him move from Sporting Cristal, via Argentinian club Boca Juniors, to Newcastle United.

So how come the former captain of Peru is playing in the Premiership as a Greek?

That is just one of the questions bedevilling European football as the influx of South American players continues unabated.

After all, when Kenny Dalglish paid £3million to land Solano in July 1998, the player had to battle for the right to a work permit. There was no question then of his being anything other than South American.

Yet, nine months later in April 1999, the player nicknamed 'Nobby' on Tyneside registered a change in his nationality status. Suddenly he was Greek, as well as Peruvian, and had been granted the right to earn his living anywhere in Europe without any questions being asked.

Solano's unlikely story represents a classic case of the trafficking of South American footballers into European football on the basis of rapidly-acquired

European Union passports stemming from their ancestry. It has become the most lucrative of trades.

Asked by Soccernet about how he became Greek, Solano was unrepentant. 'My grandmother was Greek,' he said.

Yet, it was not until after joining Newcastle that Solano discovered those lost roots. Not according to him.

'Why did I do it?' he said. 'Because it's easier for the club. I started looking at it about three years ago. My mum spoke to my agent and he said it was possible.

'I played in the Peruvian national team so I qualified for a work permit when I joined. If we want to travel to some places in Europe, it's easier for them that I have a European passport.'

There is nothing to suggest Solano or Newcastle did anything wrong. It may just have been coincidence that at the time he joined the club, Newcastle had the Croat Silvio Maric and Georgian Temuri Ketsbaia in their ranks. Solano completed the quota limit of three non-EU citizens.

Equally, though, you do not have to be a cynic to look at some of Solano's current team-mates and raise eyebrows. In addition to Solano, Bobby Robson's squad contains no fewer than five South American-raised players.

Midfielder Clarence Acuna is registered as a Chilean but Cristian Bassedas, Daniel Cordone, Pablo Bonvin and Diego Gavilan - all born in Argentina - are officially Europeans. The first three have Italian passports, while Gavilan carries Spanish documentation.

They are among some 80 players in British football who play under dual passports, including Sunder-land's Emerson Thome and Julio Arca, Horacio Carbonari of Derby, Carlos Marinelli of Middlesbrough, Tottenham's Mauricio Taricco and Barnsley's Mateo Corbo.

The vast majority are probably legitimate but doubts remain - especially after fraud is uncovered, as it was when Derby discovered the Italian passport of striker Esteban Fuertes was fake and when Arsenal's £6million Brazilian signing Edu attempted to enter the country on false Portuguese papers last summer.

It is a situation which is causing concern across the Continent.

The French Federation, which last week docked Saint-Etienne seven points for fielding illegal players, is investigating 78 cases of potentially dubious nationality.

In Italy, Lazio's championship win last season was threatened when it was discovered that Argentina midfielder Juan Veron's Italian passport had been fraudulently obtained.

Derby manager Jim Smith said the Fuertes sting had led to his club checking the documents of all new foreign signings with immigration officials.

'The whole situation left a bad taste in my mouth,' he said. 'We got our money back on Fuertes when we eventually managed to sell him on. But we were lucky.

'I'd still buy a South American as they have talented players. But I wouldn't do anything without the most stringent checks.'

Leeds are also wary. Elland Road chairman Peter Rids-dale said: 'After British and Irish players we look first to Scandinavia, then to the rest of the EU. After that we concentrate on Australia. South America is an area with complications.'

The problem is that the Home Office, overwhelmed by more obvious examples of attempted illegal entry at the Channel ports, does not have the manpower to question credentials unless evidence arrives at its door.

Football clubs, aware of this, know that the onus is not on them to prove the validity of the passports.

One Nationwide League secretary told Soccernet: 'We're inundated with offers of players from agents, most of whom seem to have EU passports. We might have our doubts but sometimes we're told not to ask too many questions.'

That attitude cuts to the heart of the problem and even some agents have blanched at the thought of involvement in the trade route.

One agent, former Brighton striker Gordon Smith, said: 'I will not touch the South American market. It's a minefield. In many instances I am sure the selling club doesn't even know if their player's documents are legitimate, nor do I think they particularly care. It's a huge gamble.

'Clubs can't be sure what they are getting from South America, either. Some football authorities like to make sure that players get caps in meaningless games, just so that the clubs can bump the prices up. It's shocking.'

Rules, it appears, are there to be pushed to the full. Solano may not know his taramasalata from his feta cheese, but he is now as Greek as Alexander the Great.

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2001

Answers

Editorial meeting:

"Up to 6th and they've got my beloved Chelsea next Wednesday. Bit quiet with the International thing going on. They were rattled by the Domi affair. Let's look into all those South Americans they've got playing for them....."

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2001

So could we field a team made up of players all born in South America then?

Serious question now: What happens if they do some digging up on our players?

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

I would have thought that if they were going to do any digging they would have done it by now and we would be aware of the consequences.

They soon found out about Edu's problem so I presume if our lads have had the same checks we're in the clear.

Solano has been in and out of this country so much in the past year they would have found anything untoward.

The main aspect of the story is the influx of players like Solano and Cordone etc but what else can be done apart from capping values of English players?

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

All sounds Greek to me!

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

Easy solution if we do get "investigated". Simply employ an ex-Government Minister to represent you. There's bound to be one not far away who knows the loopholes, has contacts and is looking for some spare cash. Added bonus (?) - may even be trained/qualified (??) in law. He's Mandy, try him.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

The whole problem revolves around silly rules in Football about who can play and silly immigration restrictions.

Football should have no rules IMHO on the nationality of who can play for a club. It would be ludicrous if The Bank of England for example, ordered Barclays, NatWest etc to restrict non-European employees to less than 5%.

On the immigration front, if a player is good enough to be earning £50k+ pa and pay the taxes on same, then that person should be welcomed with open arms by the immigration authorities.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

But where does Nobby, to take but one example, pay his tax?

UK? Peru? ..............or Greece?

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

And does this mean Dabs is no longer the first Greek to play in an FA Cup final?

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

Nope. Solano signed after Dabs had played in the nightmare at Wembley against Arsenal.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

I'm with Min on this one - it's probably muck raking by the tabloids. In the case in France, St Etienne actually obtianed the false passports and the players then signed them. They've already lost 7 pts, but other clubs have appealed, claiming that matches where St Etienne used three or more non EU nationals should be ruled as defeats, and the opposition awarded three points. I think there are another 80 cases before the French passport control board at the moment.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

Apparently the Home Office are looking into Nobby's greek passport.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Why don't we get alleged Toon fan Tony Blair to ring up the Home Office, apply a bit of Prime-Ministerial clout, and ask them to drop the investigation into Nobby's Greek passport? I'm sure Alistair Campbell (as a Burnley man) wouldn't have a problem with it......

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Gawd - I hope we are legit. It would be most unpleasant to lose points...

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

If we lose Solano we will lose points! He would be deported until we can get a work permit etc etc and our allocation of non-EU players would probably be higher than it should be?

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd said: 'We didn't make the rules. We just abide by them. If Nolberto qualifies for a Greek passport, he qualifies. It's as simple as that.'

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

it's not our problem if Greece are a bit free with handing out passports. It is if it's a fake passport or faked documentation to obtain a passport, but there's no suggestion of that. I'm sure Nobby doesn't consider himself Greek, but if his grandmother was born in Greece, he seems to qualify. So what if a large proportion of South Americans have European grandparents - not altogether surprising really. In this day and age with modern travel, most people could probably have a claim to dual 'nationality', even if it's amongst the home nations. Personally I couldn't (using the grandparent test) although my children could - their gransfather on their mother's side's Greek Cypriot.

We should do a poll on here just to highlight it - see how many could apply for dual nationality. It makes a bit of a mockery of nationality, and what it means (if anything) in multi-cultural society.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

As a starter for the poll I've got two nationalities through birth in sunny England and subsequent time in NZ. But I couldn't claim anything through my grandparents as they were all Geordies.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

As for any claim of another nationality for myself, it would probably only be Salvadorean since my dad and grandparents were born there. My European ties go back at least one generation further(Irish), which doesnt' do me much good for getting an EU passport. dangit.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Norn Iron on my mother's side.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

All Geordies except my maternal Grandfather who was born south of the river and supported Sunderland. I've renounced any claim on that particular nationality!

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Oh dear...
From the Ronny: Newcastle's star player Nobby Solano is under investigation by the Home Office over his Greek passport. It was revealed yesterday that Solano holds a Greek passport which he insisted he was entitled to because of a grandparent of that nationality. But now it is claimed that Solano has no right to hold Greek papers because only a parent, and not a grandparent, qualifies anyone for that country's passport. The repercussions, should it be proved that Solano doesn't qualify to play for United under EU laws, would be catastrophic to the club. Shocked Newcastle officials were launching their own investigation today and seeking urgent talks with Solano's agent Horacio Lorda and the player himself. Ironically Lorda is already in talks with United - over a new improved contract for Solano! United insist that Solano holds a current, up-to-date Peruvian passport as well as a Greek one. But the work permit Newcastle got from the Department of Employment when Nobby first joined them in June of 1998 has since run out - and if there is a need for him to apply for another he would certainly miss games. Solano would have to leave the country while an application was being processed. He could just fly over to Dublin instead of going home to Peru and a work permit could be rushed through in seven days, but that would still mean him being unavailable for a short while. It's yet another blow to manager Bobby Robson, who has been beset by an array of top players not being available to him. Greek consulate officials in London have confirmed that if Solano had applied for a Greek passport in this country he would not have been granted one. "Grandparents do not play a role - you have to have a direct parent who is Greek to qualify," said a consular official. Lorda, the European representative for Solano's agents, first set the passport application in progress in Peru more than four years ago while Nobby was still a Sporting Cristal player. "Some people approached Nolberto and said they would examine his papers and take care of it," said Lorda. "When he arrived in England he lost contact with those people because he'd played in Argentina for Boca Juniors for almost a year. But then one day they called him and said he could get a passport. Myself, I don't know who they were." When Solano first joined United for £3 million he came in only on his Peruvian passport and played with a work permit. But that was allowed to run out when he acquired Greek papers as well and qualified through the EU. To get a new work permit, should one be eventually required, Solano would have to have played in 75 per cent of Peru's internationals - a target United believe he'd still make despite his recent decision to stop playing for his country because of the travelling involved. How long any Home Office investigation could take is unknown, of course, and in the meantime United can continue to play Solano but the worry remains, which is why United, who were keeping silent on the subject today, are launching their own investigation to try to head off any impending trouble. Football is beset by similar problems and PFA boss Gordon Taylor has demanded a thorough investigation and even a penalty of points deducted for the offence to encourage clubs to be more diligent in checks. It is not being suggested that any specific individual is deliberately trying to get round EU problems through agents discovering European roots but nevertheless it's concerning virtually every club in the country. For example Christian Bassedas, Daniel Cordone and Pablo Bonvin all have Italian passports at Newcastle and Diego Gavilan carries Spanish documentation. Only Chilean Clarence Acuna came to England on a work permit. At Sunderland, South Americans Emerson Thome and Julio Arca are the same and virtually every Premiership club has players of dual nationality.
The bit in bold's a bit of a worry, isn't it?
BTW - I think I can trump most of you. My Mum was born in Palestine, my Dad in Germany, my mum's mum in Austria and my mum's dad in Russia.I had dual citizenship as a kid, of the UK......and the USA.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Is it 4 years he has to be in the country before he can claim residency?

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Either 4 or 5yrs, but it has to be legal residency. His work permit expired, and if he loses the Greek passport, they could consider whatever time he's lived, without legitimate papers, in England illegal.

I still maintain all governments should allow residency/citizenship swaps. In other words, if a citizen has absolutely no desire to live in their 'home' country and can find a citizen of his/her desired country of a similar mind, they should be able to just swap citizenship. Each country would get rid of someone who doesn't care to contribute, while gaining someone who wants to be there.

Not sure how that would help Nobby mind. Anyone in the UK desperate for a move to Peru? Sun, sand, mountains, political unrest. ;-)

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Nol has been in such excellent form lately it would be a huge blow if this were to result loosing him, even temporarily. Wasn't it Rik who'd noted the entire youth side of Boca Juniors had Italian passports? Leonardo, a v. talented Brazilian teenager playing for Feyen**rd, was recently suspended when it emerged his papers weren't fully in order. Veron was playing for Lazio on a dodgy Italian passport, given the financial rewards I guess there is too much incentive to bend the rules.

Can't match Dan but I can claim Dutch citizenship this year (have to give up my British passport though unless wor'lass + I marry). Now, where did I leave those clogs?

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Midfielder Clarence Acuna is registered as a Chilean but Cristian Bassedas, Daniel Cordone, Pablo Bonvin and Diego Gavilan - all born in Argentina - are officially Europeans. The first three have Italian passports, while Gavilan carries Spanish documentation.

And I thought some one would pick up on this passage. Our three Argentinians carry Italian passports, and Gavilan who I thought was Paragyaun carries a Spanish one.

Question. How is it that all our South Americans apart from Acuna have EU passports?

They all can't have atleast One European parent can they?

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

Our esteemed Chairman seems unconcerned by it all!!

Newcastle United chairman Freddie Shepherd has spoken for the first time in the wake of reports questioning the validity of Nolberto Solano's passport, and insisted neither the player nor United have anything to worry about.

The Magpies' chief described suggestions that the Peruvian international could be deported as 'scandalous rubbish' and added that St James's Park officials did not expect any inquiry by either the FA or the Home Office.

"There has been no contact with either of them," revealed Shepherd. "The player has travelled all over the world with us and there have been no difficulties at all.

"I feel sorry for Solano. This speculation is damaging and hurtful for him, but fortunately he has been assured by myself and Bobby Robson that his future lies at Newcastle."

Solano found himself at the centre of a national newspaper probe last week when it was claimed his Greek passport could be invalid. The South American qualifies for an EC passport through a paternal grandmother and did not apply for a new work permit once his original documentation ran out in 1999.

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

The South American qualifies for an EC passport through a paternal grandmother and did not apply for a new work permit once his original documentation ran out in 1999.

Well, if that's true, then it puts the whole thing to bed. Assuming his Gran is Greek. Of course she is, we've all had Granny-Ma-Solano in a Greek restaurant. OK, OK, I'm off - coat, hat.

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

Apparently not because the Greek's have come out and said they only issue passports to people who have Greek parentage and they don't go as far back as the grandparents.

So if that is true, Nobby has been playing since 1999 with a false passport and no work permit, a bit serious. If he applied for a work permit he would have no problems getting one but it is what the FA will do that worries me.

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

The FA have said that Newcastle are blameless and no penalty is expected against the club.

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

Any more info about what is happening to Solano? I assume if they are not blaming the club then they must be blaming someone and there is indeed something wrong here?

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

so, can we confirm that my original posting on this thread was true then?

London journalists....AGAIN.

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

If your grandparent is Grrek, then your mother qualifies and gets a Greek passport that makes your mother Greek. YOU are then in possession of a Greek parent then you qualify for a Greek Passport.

Simple logic really.

Next problem.....................

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

If it was that simple there wouldn't be a story to print in the first place. His mother doesn't necessarily have a Greek passport, she may not have applied for one?

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

I don't think there ever was a story - just press sh*t stirring.

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

Or it could be that Greece used to give passports to people with Greek grandparents, but have since changed it to only allow Greek parentage as qualification. It's also possible that if his mother got a passport, he'd then qualify. Depends on the country. I know Ireland doesn't allow it. (I've checked since my mother could qualify for an Irish passport).

Anyway, great news if this is all really is non-news! :-)

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

This all boils down to (a) what the Greek authorities required when the application was made and (b) did he tell any porkies on the form? On the basis he seems to have forgotten who/how/when the forms were filled in, then it will depend on whether the Greeks decide to investigate it. If they do, aah'll not be gannin' back fer me jollydays.

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

Surely we can get Nic (Dabizas) the Greek to sort all this out with something like, "Let him have his passport or I'll not play for you again"

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

Clear as mud. I thought the work permit had expired?

Nolberto Solano's agent has played down claims over irregularities to the player's passport. And he believes Newcastle are also happy with the situation regarding the Peruvian international. Solano has come under the spotlight recently over reports that he is not entitled to his Greek passport which gives him dual nationality and negates the need for a work permit. But his agent told Ananova.com: "As far as we are concerned everything is okay with Nobby and Newcastle are happy with the situation - but you will get people trying to make trouble. "Nobby came over as a work permit player anyway - he didn't come over with a passport. "And he doesn't really need a European passport as he has a work permit having played in internationals for Peru. "He has played in all their internationals so that was never a problem. "The Argentinian people who sorted his passport out - it took them eight months to get it and these days you can get a European passport in Tescos." "And he didn't get his passport for around 12 months after he came over." Solano's agent also cannot foresee any future problems with Solano given he is still a current international. "I think Newcastle initially wanted this passport because there would obviously then be no more complications with the work permit if he was given a European passport," added his agent. "But Nobby hasn't retired from international football - he's played in all the World Cup qualifiers so there would never be a problem with his work permit, anyway."

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

and these days you can get a European passport in Tescos.

Dang! I missed that aisle!

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

Ciara - only if Mandy Peterson is on the checkout.

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

>>>>>Surely we can get Nic (Dabizas) the Greek to sort all this out

Of course! Dabs can simply adopt Nobby - Greek parent - problem solved. Eureka!

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

LOL. Does anyone know whether our Greek God (ie. Nik) is married? Incidentally, I was surprised to see the Times saying that the lads were taking the p..s out of Nobby in training by referring to Greek tragedies. Frankly, I hadn't thought there to be so much erudition: Warren Barton: "He'll be finding out next that that bird of his is his old dear" Shay Given: "Begorrah! And he'll have to pluck out his own eyes. Won't be much cop at corners if that happens.. "

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

That's given me one of my muses. Who can we get to slay the Manu-ta?

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

Paolo DiCaneseus?

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

It's shocking, bearing in mind how cosmpolitan we are these days, that so few Toon players' names are easily distorted to a variation of Theseus.

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

John Karelseus...

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

Steve Harpy?

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

Cordon(e)ybdis?

Toga...door....

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

Steve Harpy - LOL Aarondite Hughes I'm getting me coat....

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

Aarondite? ROTFL! There's room in the cab if you want to share. :-)

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

Alan Shearacles? No? Is that cab still waiting?

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001