UK Immigration for Talented Footballers

I am not the first and I will not be the last to petition against a change to the FA and UK government's stance that clubs here may only sign a Non-EU passport holder player if he has played over 75% of competitive games for his national team in the past 2 years, if they are in the top 70 countries in the FIFA rankings.

For example, over the past decade I have observed as South American, African and Asian markets have been plundered by countries without such immigration restrictions, such as Germany, France, Spain and Belgium, who pick up players cheaply with good potential, build them into superstars, they then go onto play heavily for their national teams then they are sold at a premium to clubs in the English Premier League. For example, Papiss Cisse and Sergio Aguero.

Then on top of that, UK teams are now, like the rest of Europe, told to fit into the UEFA Fair Play Rules restricting the way finances may be spent.

Well, if this is to occur - has anyone realised that the playing field does not become more fair if the UK still have these restrictions based upon them? In-fact it hits UK clubs hardest.

Quite simply if a UK club has to wait until a Non-EU passport holder has played over 75% of competitive games for his national team - you would expect them to pay the premium as they will be mature, established internationals by that stage. Let's put it this way, for example, the immigration rules here as it stood meant Man City couldn't have competed to sign Sergio Aguero easily when Atletico Madrid moved to sign him in 2006 as he hadn't played the required amount for Argentina's senior team. And then when the time comes when Man City could sign Aguero they're also going to be impeded by paying the best premium to beat any other club because of concerns of fitting within fair play rules. So both hands are tied.

Whilst the FA does make the odd exception for outstanding youth talent, it is often only for players from the top 10 FIFA ranked countries and it then goes to a subjective panel - then who is actually to say if one 17 year old is better than another for example ? Surely it's the further development that's equally as important to the raw talent adjudged on that day for a visa and that development happens after the exception is made not before.

Truly, if we were to be fair and a totally free market, all clubs in Europe should share the same immigration rules in football and same financial regulations. This is fictitious I know but I still believe the UK's approach to player immigration could be more competitive. What do you think?