Footballers Essien, Cole can't play in Indonesia without work permits

Indonesian authorities yesterday banned Michael Essien and Carlton Cole from playing until they get work permits after their new club did not obtain the necessary documents for the ex-English Premier League players

Michael Essien

Bandung (Indonesia): Indonesian authorities yesterday banned Indonesian authorities yesterday banned Michael Essien and Carlton Cole from playing until they get work permits after their new club did not obtain the necessary documents for the ex-English Premier League players. and Carlton Cole from playing until they get work permits after their new club did not obtain the necessary documents for the ex-English Premier League players.

The two were signed with great fanfare last month by Persib Bandung, one of the country's best clubs, in a boost for Indonesian football as it seeks to bounce back from a FIFA suspension and launch a new league.

Carlton Cole 

But the government-backed Professional Sports Agency found the players did not have the required work permits.

The club admitted they had not finished processing the paperwork for the pair before they made their debuts in the country's new top-flight Liga 1 at the weekend.

After calling in the players and Persib's management for questioning, immigration authorities said yesterday the pair would not be able to play until they obtained the permits.

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