It is expected that the British government’s proposal to reform the immigration system starting in 2021 will have a strong impact on the English Championship and may make it difficult to sign Brazilian players. The draft was submitted last Wednesday and Parliament will decide whether to approve the new model.
To obtain a work visa, foreigners, including foreigners from the European Union, will have to meet a series of requirements and reach points set by the British government. Having a job offer already approved is worth 20 points, for example. If the foreigner demonstrates competence, there are 20 additional points. Anyone who speaks English well will get another 10 points, as will a worker who earns more than one-and-a-half of the minimum wage.
For footballers, the biggest challenge will be getting the 20 points awarded to those who fill a ‘rare vacancy’. The minimum to obtain a visa is 70. “Unfortunately, no one knows what the consequences of these changes will be, but I am sure that something will be done to combat the new legislation,” he said. state Howard Wilkinson, Chairman of the LMA (League Managers Association), the association of sports managers in England.
The focus of discussion is whether or not athletes will be included in the new system. “In current immigration rules there are exceptions for specific professions, including religious leaders, athletes and artists,” he said optimistically. “Legislation scheduled to come into force in January 2021 is likely to preserve these exceptions for non-EU and EU citizens.” Bobby Barnes, Executive Vice President, PFA.
The FA agreed to relax the rules and allow foreign players not to be subject to the same standards as those working in other sectors as long as top-flight clubs do not exceed the limit of 260 non-UK athletes – the equivalent of 13 players per team. An FA spokesman said: “The FA believes that allowing access, but preventing an increase in the current number of foreign players, will benefit all of English football.”
In addition, the United Kingdom left the European Union last month. Currently, there is no ban on the registration of European players, as there is freedom of movement within the European Union. However, the rules will only be maintained until the next transfer window from June to August, when British clubs will be able to shop without any kind of restrictions.
But after the transition period, rules set by the UK government come into force: EU citizens must meet the same criteria that apply to workers from outside the community. In other words, they will also need to meet a list of requirements and outcomes to obtain a UK work visa.
The new immigration system in the United Kingdom*
- 20 points: You have a job offer that has been approved
- 20 points: Ability to practice the profession
- 20 points: Filling rare vacancies
- 20 points: Earning more than one and a half minimum wage
- 10 points: Prove that you speak English well
*To obtain a visa you will need to score 70 points
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