It appears Goran Popov will be headed back to Ukraine with Dynamo Kyiv after he was denied a work permit to complete a loan move to Stoke City.

English media reports that Stoke City could attempt to appeal the ruling after Goran Popov’s work permit application was rejected.  Popov believes the snag that led to the refusal of a work permit is that Macedonia is currently ranked #102 in the FIFA World Rankings.  Apparently, a national team being ranked #70 or higher is one of the criteria in securing a work permit.

Popov was disappointed in the ruling and was quoted as saying the following in various English newspapers, “I like to play here and everything was ready for me to sign, but then they say there is a problem with the work permit.  It is so difficult with the Macedonia national team because we are ranked 102.  Before we were in 60th place and that was good, but now it is bad.”

Goran went on to say, “The problem is not the clubs – Stoke City or Dynamo Kiev – the problem is the rules here in England.  This is the problem for players like me from Macedonia.  It is crazy.  I cannot believe it.  Everything is ready, then you go back to your old club in Kiev.  This was my dream from [when I was] young because I like English football, but now I wait.”

It is a bad break for both Popov and the Macedonian national team.  Unless the ruling is somehow overturned on an appeal, Goran will be headed back to Dynamo Kyiv where recent signing Taye Taiwo is entrenched as the starting LB, leaving Goran on the outside looking on.