It’s not the first time Cardiff City striker Michael Chopra has been linked with the India national football team, but over the last few day talks of such a move have heated up. He has Indian-born grandparents which is normal all you need, however to play for Indian he needs Indian passport, something he does not have.
Chopra has been out to Abu Dhabi to meet the India coach Englishman Bob Houghton and watch the national team play; they lost to Kuwait 9-1.
If Chopra was to decide to take up the offer it would bring up a club v country in January has India take part in the Asian Cup. The competition starts for India on the January 10 against Australia followed by Bahrain and South Korea with the final on the Jan 29th but it is highly unlikely they will progress further than the group stage so he should be on his way back to Cardiff on the Jan 18th.
It has been reported that Cardiff City and manager Dave Jones are happy for Chopra to play in the Asian Cup.
Sporting to BBC Sport Wales he said:
"It would help Cardiff City and boost Cardiff City because it would give them another avenue to promote the club."It's a case of meeting the government over there and trying to get... I'm not sure if it's citizenship or something else."I've spoken to the manager [Houghton] who's happy, hopefully we can get things sorted.""When I first mentioned [the India chance] to [Cardiff manager] Dave Jones he was all for it."I'm not sure he knew things were going to go as far as they have... but the opportunity is too good to turn down."Whether there are ways round [missing the Cardiff fixtures] I don't know, that's the only problem."I don't want to miss games, I want to play in every game."
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