From correspondents in Delhi, India, 09:03 PM IST

The Indian football team is expected to fly out to Dubai Friday armed with Spanish visas as a majority of the players got their passports stamped Thursday and a few others were expected to get theirs well before their departure.

The players also received the happy news that the sports ministry has cleared the air-fares for the Dubai-Barcelona trip and also agreed to finance a large component of their overseas preparatory camps and competitions for the 2011 Asian Cup in Doha. The two-time Asian Games gold medallists qualified for the continental cup last year after a gap of 24 years.

The team's scheduled departure to Dubai Thursday was delayed because of the visa glitches. Players from Maharasthra, Goa, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are yet to get their visas, but the All India Football Federation (AIFF) hoped that the issue would be sorted out by Friday morning.

'We are working to get the visas for some of the players. Hopefully we will get them by Friday morning and the team can leave immediately,' AIFF secretary-general Alberto Colaco said.

Colaco also thanked the sports ministry for clearing the team's air-fare, which amounts to nearly Rs.8 million.

Department of Sports joint secretary I. Srinivas told IANS that the ministry has cleared the air-fare for the team's preparatory tour for the Nehru Cup in August.

'The AIFF wanted the whole trip to be sponsored, but the rules permit us to pay only the passage,' he said.

The team's tour ran into trouble after the Spanish embassy in Delhi insisted that the players from the four states must get their passports stamped at its Mumbai consulate.

According to rules, residents of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Karanataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, Daman and Diu have to apply to the Consulate General of Spain in Mumbai while those from other states can apply in Delhi.

Unaware of the stipulation, the AIFF applied for visas for all 27 players here Monday but then had to rush to Mumbai to make a fresh application for the visas.

The team will practice in Dubai till July 7 and will then travel to Barcelona for a month-long camp at the Nou Camp till Aug 7. They will also play against some local teams during their stay in Barcelona.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)