On February 6, Shanghai women's soccer team welcomed an international star - Tang Jiali. She officially announced the end of her contract with La Liga Madrid CFF and returned to her mother team. Originally, Tang Jiali had no choice but to interrupt her overseas studies due to visa problems.
Looking back, many Chinese players have given up their studies abroad due to the call of the Football Association or the adjustment of their athletic status. 20 years ago, Xie Hui and Fan Zhiyi, and nowadays, Wu Lei and Zhang Yuning, are some of the representatives of these players. However, Tang Jiali's path to study abroad came to an abrupt end due to visa issues. What kind of visa is it that has tied the hands of this rose of the pitch? What is the story behind the end of her marriage and contract?
In June 2021, Tang Jiali, who had been successful in the Olympic qualifiers, was unexpectedly dropped from the Tokyo Olympic roster. By this time, she had received offers from several European clubs, one from Madrid and the other from North London. Madrid CFF sincerely and eagerly signed a two-year contract with her, while Tottenham planned a one-year loan. After many suggestions, Tang Jia Li chose the English Premier League, which has more commercial value, influence and competitive intensity.
On July 21, Tang Jiali became the first player studying abroad to join the English Premier League. On the same day, China's Olympic women's soccer team lost 0-5 to Brazil in the Olympics. A year later, CFF Madrid once again extended an olive branch to her, inviting her to join La Liga. According to FIFA's transfer regulations, the two sides finally reached a 1+1 agreement. The contract stipulates that if the player chooses to leave in the second year, the new team can only be another European league or a Chinese club. If she moves to another La Liga team, she will also have to pay a training fee to CFF Madrid.
In May, an agreement was reached and the team began the process of applying for a work permit from the Spanish Ministry of the Interior.On June 1, Tang Jiali returned to China to prepare her documents. After arriving in Chengdu, she began preparing her visa information during her 14+7 quarantine. The medical examination and other processes will have to be dealt with on June 21, when the quarantine is lifted. If all goes well, the preparation will take about a month, or July 21st. And the Chinese women's soccer team has already left for Japan on July 17th.
As the new Asian Cup champions, it was crucial for the Chinese women's soccer team to perform at the East Asian Cup, and Tang Jiali didn't want to miss any national team matches. Upon her return to China, she was urgently drafted into the team and participated in training in Qingdao in preparation for her trip to Japan. However, Tang was pressed for time to apply for a Spanish work visa in order to fit in with the team's passport submission and Japanese visa application.
Meanwhile, it was learned that Tang Jiali would be participating in the East Asia Cup, and the team asked her to fly to Madrid directly after the tournament. If she returned to China to apply for a visa, pre-season training and integration would be delayed. After much negotiation, Tang Jiali applied for the more convenient Schengen Sports Visa. However, one limitation of the Schengen visa is that it is not a work visa. Foreigners entering Spain on this visa can only stay for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period.
This means Tang Jiali must leave after three months in Spain. Many international players will use a Schengen visa and then return to China to apply for a work visa after obtaining a work permit. For example, 2019's Wu Lei and numerous Spanish players have used this method.
In mid-October, the work permit that CFF Madrid had applied for Tang Jiali finally arrived, after four months. Initially, CFF Madrid attempted to complete the visa conversion through the Immigration Department, but found that it was impossible to take a shortcut, and in early November, the club informed Jiali Tang, "We can't sign a work visa for you, you need to go home."
Due to the intensive nature of the team's matches, the club doesn't want players to miss too many games. Based on their past experience, "It's okay if the visa permit is a little overdue, just submit all the information. Many African and South American players have done this and eventually got their work visas." However, the clubs knew little about the adjustments to China's entry quarantine policy. They advised Tang Jiaoli to delay her return until international match days.
However, Jiali Tang's team was not reassured. After urgent communication, she booked a flight back to China on November 8th. Madrid has a weekly flight to China, so the return was scheduled for November 8th.
At this point, many days had passed since the work permit was issued by the Ministry of the Interior. According to the regulations, it could only be completed within 10 days if not overdue. Despite the club's endorsement, Donjali began to prepare the information.
After arriving in Chongqing for quarantine and returning to Shanghai five days later, Tang Jiali was quarantined for 14 days. During this time, with the help of her team and Paypal assistants, she completed the preparation of most of her documents (including various translations, a clean criminal record and dual certification). After the quarantine was lifted, accompanied by community staff, she went to the designated hospital to complete her overseas medical checkup.On December 21st, Tang Jiali completed the signing process.
As soon as the Spanish Consulate General in Shanghai saw the work permit, it shook its head several times, "This job is overdue for more than a month and cannot be signed." Tang Jiali and her team were exhausted at this point, but still fought hard.
The team forwarded the consulate's instructions and request to the club, asking them to apply for a new work permit within a week, otherwise the information at hand would be overdue and all previous efforts would be in vain. Tang Jiali also synchronized her situation with the national team coach. Shui Qingxia said, "Respect your choice, whether you play soccer or not, you can't fall behind in your training."
After Christmas, the Madrid CFF began to reply to the news: "The club does not have the power to make the Ministry of the Interior solve this problem in a week, but only according to the efficiency of the first three months, please understand. At the same time, we want the players to remain in the team."
After learning of the response from the other side, and after several discussions, Tang Jiali decided in January 2023 to terminate her loan contract with CFF Madrid and return to Shanghai Women's Football.
"Players, clubs and national teams can't afford to wait." Tang Jiali's team said.
"At that moment, I felt sorry for myself, having just joined the team and having a bit of an understanding with my teammates." Donjali said her departure was both helpless and regrettable.
"This return is definitely not the end of my study abroad career, but this year has been particularly important (World Cup + Asian Games + Olympic Preliminaries) and I can't keep consuming it. Next, I hope to be recognized again for the new season of the Women's Super League through the national team and to start again."
"Returning to La Liga is the first choice for the future. I don't want my dream to end halfway and I will consider other possibilities."
After the termination of the contract, Shui Qingxia found Tang Jiali and arranged for her to return to Shanghai to train. After the Spring Festival, master and disciple met in Guangzhou.
At this time, Tang Jiali changed WeChat's all-black avatar to a watercolor on a white background of a cute little girl with a left-handed Bieye.
A year ago, Tang Jiali's crosses and Shui Qingxia's tactical adjustments allowed the Chinese women's soccer team to blossom across Asia in a come-from-behind victory over South Korea.
