FIFA in dark on Brexit’s implications

FIFA has admitted that it is unsure of the consequences Brexit will have on the future for young Irish footballers.

As revealed in an Irish Mail on Sunday report last weekend, Britain’s decision to leave the European Union (EU) and reject the opportunity to remain as a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) could lead to a drastic shift in the development of teenagers in this country.

Article 19 of the FIFA’s relates to the protection of minors and states that the transfer of those under the age of 18 is prohibited, with three exceptions cited.

The first is that the child’s parents move to the country for non-footballing reasons. The second is that the youngster in question lives within 100 kilometres from the club and the third, which is of most consequence to Ireland and Britain, is transfer of minors aged between 16-18 is permitted within the EU or EEA.

However, a brief statement from the game’s world governing body insisted they must wait to discover the full impact of Britain’s EU exit.

‘We are not in a position to speculate on the precise impact of Brexit before the relevant modalities are known and established in detail,’ it read. ‘As a general rule, all applications for approval of an international transfer of minor players, or a first registration of foreign minor players, are assessed in accordance with Article 19 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.’