Rumanian soccer star denied refugee status

Press, 29 October 1981, Page 40

Rumanian soccer star denied refugee status

NZPA . Canberra The Australian Federal Government has refused refugee status to a Rumanian soccer player, Gheorghe Viscreanu, who left his team earlier this month seeking to remain in Australia.

However, the Immigration and Ethnic Affairs Minister, Mr lan MacPhee, said that Viscreanu was able to remain in ■ Australia on his present visa until tomorrow.

The Minister said that Viscreanu, aged 20, would meet the Victorian regional director of the department after he had "given further consideration to his position."

Mr MacPhee was asked at a press conference if Viscreanu now had a strong chance of being able to stay in Australia on some other ground.

He said that, as with the recent case of the arrival of 146 refugees in Darwin, he had to be careful not to make “pre-emptive statements" before he had the facts.

Viscreanu, in Australia for the World Youth Soccer Cup, left his team’s hotel two weeks ago and has since been in hiding among members, of the Rumanian community. Mr MacPhee said that the Government had accepted a unanimous recommendation from the Determination of Refugee Status (Dors) committee that Viscreanu not be granted refugee status. He told journalists that the Rumanian was in no fear of persecution “in accordance with the United Nations convention."

Asked what Mr Viscreanu’s options were, the Minister said that the soccer player was now “going off to consider them."

Options which could provide the possibility for Viscreanu to remain in Australia would be canvassed with him.

The Minister would make no definite statement that Viscreanu would be forced to

leave Australia. “Pm . sorry, you might think that is uncooperative but I think it is about time somebody started the consider his welfare," said Mr MacPhee.

“He is considering his welfare. He himself has been illadvised in making the number of public statements that he has made and certain sections of the media have exploited him in my opinion."

Mr MacPhee, said he was trying to balance the public interest and the “right to know" with the need to make sure people were rightly advised and interrogated. He said he would give further details of the situation after Viscreanu had given "quiet thought” to the situation.

“Everybody regarded his leaving the national youth team and seeking to remain in Australia as very much a spur of the moment decision," Mr MacPhee said.