EU Referendum and Football

[BlueinBosnia]

I don't want to get into the politics of the EU Referendum (well, I do, but we're not allowed), but how would it affect football, and, in particular, our squad makeup?

As things stand, EU players must be counted/treated in the same way as UK players, and the FA can only discriminate on the basis of where a player was trained. However, in the event of an 'Out' vote, the EU becomes irrelevant for FA quotas, leaving 3 scenarios:

i) The squad will have to be made up of a majority of players of UK nationality (this will have to be phased in, obviously)
ii) The EU rule will be replaced by a rule for 'players from UEFA countries' (meaning players like Dzeko, who was from a UEFA but non-EU country would no longer count toward the 'foreign quota')
iii) Foreign quotas will be scrapped altogether

It's interesting that the FA hasn't announced what would happen in the event of an 'Out' vote yet, as I'm sure this would have a massive impact on clubs and players alike, which, in turn would severely impact upon a multi-billion-pound industry.

[iwasthere2012]

I don't want to get into the politics of the EU Referendum (well, I do, but we're not allowed), but how would it affect football, and, in particular, our squad makeup?

As things stand, EU players must be counted/treated in the same way as UK players, and the FA can only discriminate on the basis of where a player was trained. However, in the event of an 'Out' vote, the EU becomes irrelevant for FA quotas, leaving 3 scenarios:

i) The squad will have to be made up of a majority of players of UK nationality (this will have to be phased in, obviously)
ii) The EU rule will be replaced by a rule for 'players from UEFA countries' (meaning players like Dzeko, who was from a UEFA but non-EU country would no longer count toward the 'foreign quota')
iii) Foreign quotas will be scrapped altogether

It's interesting that the FA hasn't announced what would happen in the event of an 'Out' vote yet, as I'm sure this would have a massive impact on clubs and players alike, which, in turn would severely impact upon a multi-billion-pound industry.

I started an EU thread on the off topic and nobody objected. This would fit right in there. Never considered it in football terms.
Interesting.

[Blue Since 76]

The Premier League wants to be the best in the world to bring in the massive TV deals. That isn't going to happen if the league is made up of English and Scotch cloggers. The PL would therefore let anyone in.

Issue then is the government, but do you let a French/Spanish player in, thus keeping the PL income and the tax and jobs etc or do a Farage and insist that Lee Catermole is just as good.

I therefore suspect little would change domestically.

[BlueinBosnia]

The Premier League wants to be the best in the world to bring in the massive TV deals. That isn't going to happen if the league is made up of English and Scotch cloggers. The PL would therefore let anyone in.

Issue then is the government, but do you let a French/Spanish player in, thus keeping the PL income and the tax and jobs etc or do a Farage and insist that Lee Catermole is just as good.

I therefore suspect little would change domestically.

But the two scenarios you just posted are massively different, aren't they? If anyone's going to be let in, then surely there'd be a massive influx of South American players, who are currently limited by the non-EU cap.

It'd be interesting to see whether any big Prem names wouldn't make the cut for a work permit if they weren't from the EU. From our squad, I'm not sure if Nasri has played enough international games.

[Socrates]

The Premier League wants to be the best in the world to bring in the massive TV deals. That isn't going to happen if the league is made up of English and Scotch cloggers. The PL would therefore let anyone in.

Issue then is the government, but do you let a French/Spanish player in, thus keeping the PL income and the tax and jobs etc or do a Farage and insist that Lee Catermole is just as good.

I therefore suspect little would change domestically.

But the two scenarios you just posted are massively different, aren't they? If anyone's going to be let in, then surely there'd be a massive influx of South American players, who are currently limited by the non-EU cap.

It'd be interesting to see whether any big Prem names wouldn't make the cut for a work permit if they weren't from the EU. From our squad, I'm not sure if Nasri has played enough international games.

I thought the Brexites were arguing for us joining the European Economic Area if we left the EU? That guarantees freedom of trade still and freedom of movement, in fact there would still be as much immigration just we wouldn't be able to have a say in the rules and would have to pay for access to the EU markets, is why the whole case for exit is total nonsense.

[BlueinBosnia]

The Premier League wants to be the best in the world to bring in the massive TV deals. That isn't going to happen if the league is made up of English and Scotch cloggers. The PL would therefore let anyone in.

Issue then is the government, but do you let a French/Spanish player in, thus keeping the PL income and the tax and jobs etc or do a Farage and insist that Lee Catermole is just as good.

I therefore suspect little would change domestically.

But the two scenarios you just posted are massively different, aren't they? If anyone's going to be let in, then surely there'd be a massive influx of South American players, who are currently limited by the non-EU cap.

It'd be interesting to see whether any big Prem names wouldn't make the cut for a work permit if they weren't from the EU. From our squad, I'm not sure if Nasri has played enough international games.

I thought the Brexites were arguing for us joining the European Economic Area if we left the EU? That guarantees freedom of trade still and freedom of movement, in fact there would still be as much immigration just we wouldn't be able to have a say in the rules and would have to pay for access to the EU markets, is why the whole case for exit is total nonsense.

If you're the kind of person who puts money before morals, then yes. However, if you see the EU as inherently skewed toward the wishes of the big guys (as the concessions promised to the UK have shown it to be), and don't agree with this out of principle, then you would still have a case for an exit.

I think you're confusing the EEA with EFTA, as the UK is already in the EEA. Joining EFTA would have the effects you state, but the FA would be allowed to distinguish between players of UK/other EEA nations for purposes of nationality quotas, something they are currently unable to do with the UK as a member of the EU, leaving football in the current position of being politicized, by distinguishing between citizens from and not from a political bloc.

[Blue Since 76]

The Premier League wants to be the best in the world to bring in the massive TV deals. That isn't going to happen if the league is made up of English and Scotch cloggers. The PL would therefore let anyone in.

Issue then is the government, but do you let a French/Spanish player in, thus keeping the PL income and the tax and jobs etc or do a Farage and insist that Lee Catermole is just as good.

I therefore suspect little would change domestically.

But the two scenarios you just posted are massively different, aren't they? If anyone's going to be let in, then surely there'd be a massive influx of South American players, who are currently limited by the non-EU cap.

It'd be interesting to see whether any big Prem names wouldn't make the cut for a work permit if they weren't from the EU. From our squad, I'm not sure if Nasri has played enough international games.

We currently can't stop EU players, so have a cap on non-EU, plus the political issue of getting them in if not internationals. I'd expect going forwards we'd end up with the none EU rule for everyone, which won't be a problem for a Silva or an Aguero, but could make the next Martial interesting as you'd have to prove they were a special talent, like with Iheanacho.

What I meant was I don't see it stopping English clubs buying stars, in fact they'd have to widen it so we could see more south Americans, although UEFA could have different rules.

I shan't let it influence my vote

[Socrates]

The Premier League wants to be the best in the world to bring in the massive TV deals. That isn't going to happen if the league is made up of English and Scotch cloggers. The PL would therefore let anyone in.

Issue then is the government, but do you let a French/Spanish player in, thus keeping the PL income and the tax and jobs etc or do a Farage and insist that Lee Catermole is just as good.

I therefore suspect little would change domestically.

But the two scenarios you just posted are massively different, aren't they? If anyone's going to be let in, then surely there'd be a massive influx of South American players, who are currently limited by the non-EU cap.

It'd be interesting to see whether any big Prem names wouldn't make the cut for a work permit if they weren't from the EU. From our squad, I'm not sure if Nasri has played enough international games.

I thought the Brexites were arguing for us joining the European Economic Area if we left the EU? That guarantees freedom of trade still and freedom of movement, in fact there would still be as much immigration just we wouldn't be able to have a say in the rules and would have to pay for access to the EU markets, is why the whole case for exit is total nonsense.

If you're the kind of person who puts money before morals, then yes. However, if you see the EU as inherently skewed toward the wishes of the big guys (as the concessions promised to the UK have shown it to be), and don't agree with this out of principle, then you would still have a case for an exit.

I think you're confusing the EEA with EFTA, as the UK is already in the EEA. Joining EFTA would have the effects you state, but the FA would be allowed to distinguish between players of UK/other EEA nations for purposes of nationality quotas, something they are currently unable to do with the UK as a member of the EU, leaving football in the current position of being politicized, by distinguishing between citizens from and not from a political bloc.

Not confused at all, joining EFTA actually guarantees less than the EEA not more. Joining EFTA and not the EEA would leave us in the position of the Swiss, joining the EEA would make us like Norway. We are one of the big guys while IN the EU, once out but the EEA we'd be stuck with what the other big guys want but without any say at all.

[Socrates]

There's a fairly balanced article on the impact on the Prem here.

british-exit-from-european-unon-risk-puts-premier-league-on-defensive?