Brexit axe set to fall on school boys EXCLUSIVE
THE future development of Ireland’s elite schoolboy players looks set to be dramatically altered as a result of Brexit, with former Arsenal academy director Liam Brady warning that the fallout could have major repercussions in years to come.
While British Prime Minister Theresa May explained this week that she wished to restore the Common Travel Area between the two countries as part of a lengthy process to finalise their exit from the European Union over the coming years, FIFA’s laws regarding the movement of children are currently clear cut.
Article 19 relates to the protection of minors and it prohibits transfers of those under the age of 18, 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 that the transfer of minors aged between 1618 is permitted provided it’s within the EU or European Economic Area (EEA).
Once Britain departs that exception will no longer be viable under current legislation and Brady, who not only oversaw Arsenal’s academy for almost 20 years but also joined the club in his teens before becoming one of the alltime greats in north London, says there is uncertainty within the game over the changes Brexit will bring.
‘It could have repercussions, it’s up in the air and certainly may have repercussions if it meant that boys from Ireland couldn’t go to clubs in England until they were 18,’ he said.
‘At Arsenal we signed Irish, Italians, Spanish, it’s up in the air now. Premier League clubs know about it but don’t know what’s going to happen.’
Historically, it has been a rite of passage for Ireland’s best teenagers to move to Britain in order to further their development from the age of 16 onwards.
The FAI did not wish to comment on the matter directly, except to state that it was aware of Article 19. FULL STORY PAGES 48-49