Premier League: Spare us a Brexit clampdown on signings
Elite clubs fear effects of limiting free movement League worried that FA may push for quotas
The Premier League is urging the Government to abolish restrictions on signing foreign players amid fears that Brexit will harm the league’s competitiveness and its global popularity.
The league is becoming concerned that with just over six months remaining until the United Kingdom leaves the European Union they are still waiting for clarification on a number of key issues, including whether there will be dramatic restrictions on clubs’ ability to sign European players after Brexit, and the possibility of new quotas mandating the selection of more homegrown players.
During talks with the Government and the Football Association, the Premier League has called for football to be made an exception to any new rules that limit the access of European workers after Brexit, allowing clubs to sign any players they wish over the age of 18.
However, the league fears the Government and the FA may not back its plan as it could look to use Brexit to increase opportunities for English players in the Premier League, with national team manager Gareth Southgate last week lamenting that his playing pool was getting “smaller and smaller”.
The Premier League accepts that, after Brexit, it is highly unlikely that English clubs will continue to be able to sign European players under the age of 18 – as Arsenal did with Cesc Fabregas and Hector Bellerin, and Manchester United with Gerard Pique and Paul Pogba.
But otherwise, it wants regulations on players older than 18 to be changed as little as possible, or eased, arguing that the global popularity and profile of the Premier League, which generates more than £3 billion in tax for the Treasury and directly employs 12,000 people, means football should be considered a special case.
The FA, Government and Premier League are currently in a consultation about how Brexit will affect football in the UK, but there is no indication when this will be completed. However, the issues for the league include:
The right to sign European players
The Premier League fears that the current work permit restrictions on players from outside the European Economic Area will be extended to all players from EEA countries, meaning they would have to be regulars for high-ranking international sides or command a sizeable transfer fee to be allowed to work in the UK.
This would adversely affect clubs’ ability to sign European players, especially early in their careers.
Research conducted by Laurie Shaw, a data scientist at Harvard University, shows that between 1992 and 2018 591 of the 1,022 players signed by top-flight clubs with passports for a country in the EEA would not have qualified for a work permit. Those include Fabregas, Riyad Mahrez – who is Algerian but holds a French passport – and N’golo Kante. The research also shows this would affect lesswealthy clubs the most, as their players are less likely to be regulars for top-60 international sides or command a sufficiently large transfer fee. This would, in turn, affect the competitive balance of the division.
Tightened rules on the homegrown-player quota
Currently, all clubs are mandated to have eight homegrown players in their 25-man squad, a rule that also applies to European competitions. The FA has long wanted more homegrown players in the league to develop young English talent, and it has not yet agreed with the Premier League on a united view to present to the Government.
Which players will count as homegrown?
At present, foreign players can count as homegrown if they spend three years in a club’s academy before the age of 21, but the ban on signing young talent under the age of 18 would render that more difficult and ensure homegrown is likely to mean British talent.
Ending all restrictions on signing overseas players
A radical shift, which the Premier League advocates in the belief it could give clubs a competitive advantage in scouting young players beyond Europe, including in Argentina and Brazil.
Lack of clarity over what ‘no-deal’ Brexit will mean
The Premier League has been given no timescale for when these issues will be addressed, but remains hopeful they will be met receptively.
“Like many other organisations dependent on a combination of domestic and international talent, we are waiting to better understand what the political and regulatory landscape will be after the UK leaves the European Union,” said a Premier League spokesperson.
“Access to talented footballers from across Europe has played a key part in the growth of the Premier League.
“It is vital that our clubs can continue to acquire European players with the freedom currently.”
The Government confirmed it is considering its options. “We recognise the need for sports to continue to access talent from the EU and globally and are in discussions with professional sport about this,” said a Government spokesperson.