Brexit would hurt football

Football has become the latest battleground for Brexit campaigners.   Karren Brady, vice-chair of West Ham United and a key member of the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign has warned of ‘devastating consequences’ for the game if the UK votes to quit the EU.

Lady Brady said that in the event of a Brexit, English clubs would find it harder to attract international players, while fans would be stung by higher costs when travelling to games on the continent.

Football has become the latest battleground for Brexit campaigners.   Karren Brady, vice-chair of West Ham United and a key member of the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign has warned of ‘devastating consequences’ for the game if the UK votes to quit the EU.

Lady Brady said that in the event of a Brexit, English clubs would find it harder to attract international players, while fans would be stung by higher costs when travelling to games on the continent.

In a letter to football club chairmen, Lady Brady said, ‘Players from the EU can sign for UK clubs without needing a visa or special work permit, making it quicker and easier to secure top talent from across Europe to come and play in our leagues.’   Over 40 per cent of players in the Premier League currently come from elsewhere in the EU.

Dan Chapman, a partner at Full Contract, a law firm specialising in sports, agreed an exit would ‘drastically affect the way British clubs currently recruit’ and hit lower league teams hardest.  But he noted that any changes to visa rules were unlikely to be applied retrospectively.

Some fans might, of course, welcome a reduction in the number of foreign players in British football.