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ARTICLE · 23 DECEMBER 2015

The Foreigner Debate: The FA's New Work Permit Regulations Explained

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It was announced earlier this year that the Football Association (the FA) was changing its rules on non-EEA (European Economic Area) players playing in the UK...

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By Daniel Geey and Jonny Madill

So what has happened?

It was announced earlier this year that the Football Association (the FA) was changing its rules on non-EEA (European Economic Area) players playing in the UK after consultation with the Premier League, Football League, League Managers Association, Professional Footballers Association and Home Associations.

The FA Chairman Greg Dyke explained1 that the current system needed to be tightened so as to only allow non-EEA players who are:

  • "internationally established at the highest level"; and
  • "whose employment will make a significant contribution to the development of their sport at the highest level".

A number of important statistics were used by the FA to demonstrate their view that too many sub-elite 'foreigners' were able to play in the UK, thus blocking English player pathways through to the first team. Such statistics included:

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