Government launches appeal to deny Snoop Dogg a U.K. visa

05/02/2008 6:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
courtesy of NME.com

The British Government has launched a second appeal to try to prevent Snoop Dogg from entering the U.K.

A decision to ban the rapper from having a U.K. visa was recently overturned by a judge, paving the way for him to play live gigs in Britain in the future.

However, the U.K. Border Agency has claimed that "a material error in law" was made during an immigration hearing in January, reports BBC News.

Following the appeal, the Court Of Appeal will now make a decision about whether Snoop Dogg's case should be heard again. The rapper was involved in a brawl in Heathrow Airport in April 2006, leading to a visa ban.

However, judge Neha Bird overturned the decision earlier this month, deeming that Snoop Dogg had been peaceful and not reacted to provocation from officials including police officers.

A spokesperson for the U.K. Border Agency said: "There has been no change in the facts that led to Mr Broadus [aka Snoop Dogg, real name Calvin Broadus] being denied a visa. We stand by that initial decision.

"We will continue to oppose the entry to the U.K. of individuals where we believe there may be a risk to the public."

For more on Snoop Dogg, check out his NME.com page.