The Tibetan women’s football team has been forced to pull out from the Dallas International youth tournament after the payers after the team’s players were denied visas by the United States embassy in India.

The women’s team would have been the first ever to officially represent Tibet, an autonomous region in China, whose sovereignty is a perennial point of contention in international relations, on American soil.

The team said that their applications to visit Dallas for 10 days were refused, which cost about half of the team’s yearly budget, because of the fears that the team would stay in the United States possibly claiming refugee status.

Team’s captain Jamyang Chotso said “What they said is we don’t have strong reasons to go to Dallas.”

“But I think this is not the reason for them to reject us. We think the reason is they think we might run away when we reach there.” She added. “Through football I can represent my country and through football I can inspire our girls.”

The Tibetan region remains a touchy matter in between the United States and China. The Human Rights Watch and other, NGO’s routinely call attention to gross abuses by Chinese officials in the region.  Though the United States officially recognizes Tiber as part of China, former President Barack Obama;s meeting with the Tibetan leader last year ruffled the feathers of Chinese leaders.

Now Donald Trump’s feeling about the issue of Tibetan independence is an open question, as the present President of U.S. has shown both antipathy towards foreign visitors and an affinity for upsetting China.

The Dallas international tournament, deprived the chance to become a focal point in the debate over Tibetan independence. The tournament is set for April 9-16 at the Cotton Bowl and will continue with international youth team competitors from slightly less controversial parts of the world.   

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AMandeep