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Work Permit Rules Need to be Revisited

Started by The Gaffer · 10 months ago

As the Premier League become more and more international (something I personally object to, but a reality nonetheless) the UK Home Office continues to subject potential transfers who are not holders of a European Union passport to a highly subjective standard for whether or not they will b ... Continue reading »

6 comments

  • Ray

    10 months ago

    After two of the more insulting posts ever on this fine website a nice bounce back effort from someone I thought should be sent to a halfway house. Your piece is accurate and well thought out, but one thing I am wondering is how would you solve the problem?

    The Home Office is not going to relinquish authority for this to footballing people because they fear then that every permit will be approved. So how do you solve it?
    reply
  • The Gaffer

    10 months ago

    Ray,

    I'm curious. Which were the more insulting posts you mentioned?

    Thanks for the kind words about the site.

    Cheers,
    The Gaffer
    reply
  • Phil McThomas

    10 months ago

    The Home Office have a very reasonable policy of allowing appeals to their qualitative criteria, which are often successful. Alfonso Alves happens to be forefront in my mind - no chance of playing a lot of games for Brazil, but sailed through the clearance process. It happens all the time.

    I think the numeric formula is for automatic approval only.
    reply
  • Ian

    10 months ago

    Alves case not withstanding far too many accomplished internationals have been turned down for a permit while other less worthy cases have been accepted by the home office. The most poignant and appropriate statement of this entire article was the last line about common sense. Very rarely if ever does the home office apply it with regards to work permits for footballers.
    reply
  • kkfla737

    10 months ago

    Ian, the rules are illogical.

    For example Josh Wolff had played in two world cups but because he was left off the Gold Cup squad twice once due to injury and another time because he had played in the Confederations Cup which ended a week before the Gold Cup began he did not meet the 75% and then Derby lost the appeal to sign him. Yet somehow Eddie Johnson got a work permit to play for Fulham despite featuring less regularly (under Arena) and having fewer caps than Wolff. He fell short of the 75% but won his appeal which Wolff did not.

    All the Alves case tells me is that Boro did a good job in that particular case. I'm glad they got Alves but the rejection of Akram who captained his team to an Asian Cup triumph and whose side because of war has played too few games to be ranked highly by FIFA was downright criminal as some MPs indicated after the decision was made.
    reply
  • ls7

    10 months ago

    The Home Office rule is why clubs like Arsenal and Manchester United have established strong links with clubs in Belgium. They can get their foreign players EU status after a couple of years and no worries about appeals or padded envelopes being slid under tables.
    reply

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