Due to visa requirements Hodgson has been
unable to have Amkar, the Russian Premier League team Fulham face tonight in the Europa League,
scouted ahead of the first leg at Craven Cottage,
which could also see the debut of new signing Damien
Duff.
Amkar, the easternmost club involved in a top-
flight European competition, finished fourth in
their domestic championship last season but are
languishing in 13th out of 16 this term.
"We know as much about Amkar as we've been
able to find out without seeing them because we
couldn't get a visa to watch them play," said
Hodgson.
"You need too much time to get visas, at least I
did after the play-off draw was made.
"We've seen them on video so we have quite a
clear idea of what they're like and how they play.
"But it's a little of an unknown when you go into
these European matches.
"I have strong opinions on visas. When a country
is going to play in European competition there
should be special rules for the team entering the
country.
"Football teams should have a special place. We
didn't chose to visit Perm, but we've been sent
there by UEFA."
The return leg next Thursday presents a major
logistical challenge for Fulham given Perm's
location 1,200km east of Moscow near the Ural
Mountains, involving a five-hour flight.
The following Sunday the Cottagers face Aston
Villa and Hodgson would welcome an emphatic
win tonight so that he can rotate his squad next
week.
"In an ideal scenario we'd win comfortably tonight
and be able to rest several players for the second
leg but I don't envisage that happening," he said.
"They did fairly well last year, finishing fourth in
the Russian league.
"They haven't done so well this season but we're
talking about a bona fide team in a professional
league."