Brexit has sent us all a little mad. There’s panic across vast swathes of the country, a lot of it quite justified, but there’s also some very strange stories coming out about football.
There’s been claims that many Premier League players wouldn’t have been able to join their current clubs if the Brexit situation had happened earlier, and the latest player dragged into the mess is Christian Eriksen.
Italian newspaper La Repubblica published an article they may as well have titled ‘Doom to the Premier League’, and claimed to have comments from Eriksen’s agent.
Martin Schoots is alleged, and we’d lean heavily on the alleged, to have said: “We are underestimating the danger, the truth is that half of footballers of the Premier will see their work permit turned into waste paper.
“In a situation like this I would take my client away from Tottenham.”
Well, there’s no need to worry… because there’s not going to be such a situation.
A misconception about how work permits are granted to non EU players has led to panic. Firstly, players like Eriksen would qualify given their international record.
And, even if they did not, almost all medium to big size deals would sail through the initial work permit appeal.
The following explanation is from the excellent Daniel Geey football law website and details the first appeals hurdle.
- The value of the transfer fee being paid for the player is in the top 25% of all transfers to Premier League clubs in the previous 2 windows – 3 points
- The value of the transfer fee being paid for the player is between the 50th and 75th% of all transfers to Premier League clubs in the previous 2 windows – 2 points
- The wages being paid to the player by the applicant club is in the top 25% of the top 30 earners at the club – 3 points
- The wages being paid to the player by the applicant club are between the 50th and 75th% of all the top 30 earners at the club – 2 points
- The player’s current club is in a Top League and the player has played in 30% or more of the available domestic league minutes – 1 point
- The player’s current club has played in the group stages or onwards of the Champions League, Europa League or the Copa Libertadores within the last 12 months and the player has played in 30% or more of the available domestic league minutes – 1 point
Players need to amass 4 points, and whilst that’s not a 100% guarantee, it’s the guideline so can be considered pretty reliable. Even if the 4 points aren’t met, there are further grounds for appeal.
There is zero chance half the players in the Premier League will see their work permits turn into waste paper… and that’s even if the freedom of movement doesn’t continue.
