Bureaucracy stalls Zé Rafael’s entry to Ecuador, midfielder signs undertaking to play for Santos | OneFootball

A bureaucratic hitch delayed Santos midfielder Zé Rafael’s entry into Ecuador ahead of the club’s Copa Sudamericana opener against Deportivo Cuenca on Wednesday, seven pm Brasília time, at the Alejandro Serrano Aguilar stadium in Cuenca.

According to Globo.com, Ecuador requires Brazilian travellers to hold passports valid for at least six months, but the player’s document expires in July.

After nearly six hours of travel, he spent additional time at Cuenca airport’s immigration area. The facility was improvised to process the visiting squad because the airport is not international, which prolonged the clearance.

He was eventually cleared after signing a special undertaking issued by Ecuadorian immigration that authorises Zé Rafael to take part in the match. The document also orders him to leave the country immediately after the game, a condition that matches Santos’ plan to return to Brazil straight away.

Similar red tape has already affected the squad, with midfielder Tomás Rincón absent for the Cuenca fixture as he lacks an Ecuadorian visa. Since 2019 the country has required visas for Venezuelan citizens to manage migration flows. Applications must be lodged 60 days in advance, yet the Sudamericana draw was held on 19 March.

Source: Globo.com