PAOK star cleared for Aberdeen Conference League clash as UK authorities perform visa u turn

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Magomed Ozdoev will be available for PAOK against Aberdeen after UK authorities performed a visa u-turn, meaning he won't be sidelined like he was for their clash with Hearts.The Dons resume their Europa Conference League campaign against the Greek cracks on Thursday night after a defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt and a draw against HJK Helsinki, and will likely have to take something to keep their slim qualification hopes alive.

PAOK were left fuming back in August when 35-times capped Russian international playmaker Ozdoev was denied a visa by the UK government for the first leg of the play-off at Tynecastle, following Russia's ongoing war with Ukraine.The decision came three weeks after another player with a Russian passport, Gael Ondoua of Swiss club Servette, could not travel to Glasgow to play in the Champions League qualifying rounds against Rangers.

PAOK boss Razvan Lucescu made clear at the time he was outraged at the government's decision.He said: "I feel a sense of huge injustice not to have a player here in our group because of the reason of a visa denial.

I don’t understand the people who decide about this."And the controversy even caused UEFA to step in and state: "We cannot intervene in visa cases because government authorities are the sole decision-makers in this regard."But the UK authorities have now performed a u-turn and Ozdoev will be in the PAOK party that travels to the north east of Scotland next week after being granted a visa to enter the country.Ozdoev was able to play in the home leg and helped PAOK to a 4-0 romp against Hearts in Greece to eliminate the capital side after a 2-1 win in Gorgie.