The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Former Don and family currently stuck in India
● Ex-Aberdeen footballer slams lack of action by Foreign Office
Aformer Aberdeen footballer and Scotland internationalist has called on the government to do more to help Britons stranded abroad.
David Robertson, 51, is currently in the Indian city of Srinagar, where he is the manager of Real Kashmir FC.
All flights in and out of the subcontinent have been stopped amid the coronavirus outbreak.
And that has left David, his wife Kym, 50, and
“We have got our parents back home”
25-year-old son Mason – who plays under his dad – thousands of miles from the rest of their family at home.
Now, with interstate borders shut and Mr Robertson’s parents battling ill health at home in Aberdeen, the former defender has urged the government to follow the lead of other countries and do everything in its power to get its citizens home.
He said: “In India there is a 21-day lockdown and we are five or six days into that now.
“The owner of the club, who also owns the hotel I stay in, put the place into lockdown. All the borders between the states are closed and there is not much food. It’s not run out but it won’t be long until it happens.
“We have got our parents back home and we’re particularly concerned about my mum because she is going through chemotherapy at the minute and being far away is a real worry.
“The situation is bad enough but being in a foreign country so far from home makes it worse.
“Two of our kids, Jordan and Chelsea, are also still at home. Jordan was actually in Mexico but managed to get the last flight back to the UK.”
Mr Robertson, who also played for Rangers and Leeds United, added: “The UK Government has been slow to react compared to other countries.
“Other countries who have people in the region have been trying to arrange evacuation flights.
“It’s worrying when you see other countries helping their citizens. The government needs to get it done quickly.
“I am sure they have a good enough relationship with the Indian government. A lot of people are in a similar position to us. You phone the Foreign
Office but you have to wait on the phone for half an hour or 40 minutes and then you get told to look at the website.”
The Robertsons, who live in Cults, are being assisted by Aberdeen South MP Stephen Flynn, who has written to foreign secretary Dominic Raab.
Mr Flynn said: “David’s case is not unusual but serves to once again highlight the sheer ineptitude of the Foreign Office.
“All measures should be looked at to charter aircraft to ensure UK nationals return home.”
Mr Raab announced on Monday a £75 million funding package to get stranded Brits home, saying: “This is a worrying time for many British citizens travelling abroad. Our priority will always be the most vulnerable.”