Spot on in my view. I read that one of the charges relates to lying to the police, which although not proved yet, will have influenced the decision on his character (if that was why the visa was refused).



If that's the case, he'll have the same problem trying to get in at the airport and it will all get a bit messy for Catalans.

The UKBA have now confirmed that if Bird attempts to enter the country it will be up to individual Immigration Officers whether to allow him in or not.



Presumably following UKBA guidelines of course...

I'm not up on what Bird was denied for, but his initial request will have been for a Visa/Permit which allowed him to live and work in this country.



Surely there wouldn't be an issue with him coming representing a French team every other week in this country. He wouldn't be taking any money from a UK company, or living here.



What kind of Visa's did Manly need for the game the other night?

Still needs a VISA to enter the country as he isn't a UK or EU national. The Manly players would have needed a VISA as the players in the World Cup did.

You don't need a visa to enter the UK from Australia (or NZ or probably a bunch of other places). Just need a valid passport and a believable reason for coming when they ask you.

You need to fill in a landing card and have your passport scanned. When his is scanned it will show that he has previously been refused entry to the UK.



[url=http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/travellingtotheuk/Enteringtheuk/arrivingatukborder/noteeaorswiss/UKBA[/url



He might be ok going off this:



[iYou will only need permission to come (known as 'entry clearance' or 'a visa') to the United Kingdom for a sports visit of up to six months if you are a visa national. See the visa services website for more information.



If you a non-visa national, permission to come as a sports visitor for up to six months is not needed.



Multiple entry visas are available for sports visitors for six months, and one, two, five and 10 years. See the visa services website, which you can find on the right if this page, for more information.[/i



But he has still been refused entry to the UK technically.

I don't think he was refused entry into the country. He was refused a working visa I believe.



Here is a quote from UKBA on sports persons travelling from countries like Oz (you do not need a visa):



[iIf you are not an EEA or Swiss national, you will need to provide documentary evidence to the Immigration Officer on landing at a UK port or airport of the reason for your visit to the UK – e.g. the invitation from the sporting organisation. You may also be asked for evidence that you can support yourself financially and accommodate yourself while in the UK, do not intend to base yourself in the UK and will leave the UK at the end of your visit.[/i

He has been refused permission to enter the UK (as far as we know) through the visa refusal. The reason for the intended stay in the UK seems to me to be irrelevant. If the refusal is due to his "character" then he will fall to be refused for the same reason every time he tries to enter until his court case is dealt with.



It's nothing to do with him working here or earning money. The UKBA appear to be saying to him, Crocker etc. "we don't want your sort here", which they are perfectly at liberty to do [url=http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/policyandlaw/immigrationlaw/immigrationrules/part9/under these rules[/url

Exactly

I'm not convinced that is true.



Eastwood couldn't come and work here due to a couple of traffic offences. I don't believe he would be prevented from coming here on holiday.

It is, honest!



He could quite easily be prevented from coming here for a holiday. The rules I linked to have to be considered [uevery time[/u and any refusal must be declared. The new visa manager in Canberra seems to be making problems by imposing the general rules firmly, so in theory, Eastwood could definitely be refused entry.