Terrible News for Bangura

The British Asylum and Immigration Authorities have returned their decision on Alhassan Bangura’s asylum appeal, and the news isn’t good for the Watford youngster: If the Immigration Minister himself doesn’t step in himself and allow Bangura to say in England, he faces deportation back to Sierra Leone.

As you may recall, the basis of Bargura’s appeal to stay was his belief that he faces violence and possibly death in his homeland, but the Home Office clearly didn’t find his case convincing and, new baby and new contract offer or not, barring a miracle he’ll be sent out of the country. Oddly, the focus of much of his hearing seems to have been his footballing career and the damage it would be done by a return to Sierra Leone. I mean, that’s probably true, but it’s not really the point, is it? I wonder if that emphasis did more damage that good, turning the plea into one emphasizing work rather than life.

As many have said, were Bangura just another illegal immigrant, we’d not hear a thing about his story, and no one apart from his loved ones would notice if he was deported. Because he’s a famous footballer, though, his story has reached the media, and he’s earned massive public support (and some opposition), and attention most people in his position never see. And, really, no matter your feeling on whether he should stay or go, the story is a tragic one, and must be terrifying for Bangura, who is not yet 20 years old, and claims to have no contact with anyone in the country where he could soon find himself living.

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Category: Africa, Europe, World Football

Tags: Africa, Alhassan Bangura, asylum, Europe, sierra leone, Watford, World Football

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