The notoriously over-hyped “January Transfer Deadline Day” in England also marks a more significant deadline for Premier League football teams. The 31 January 2020 was Brexit Day and the reality of the UK leaving the EU became a reality.
Within the industry there has been much confusion over the impact of Brexit and British football. The Premier League is a very cosmopolitan league. Players, managers, coaches and support staff derive from all corners of the globe. Ever since June 2016, the Premier League have held regular talks with the FA, Treasury and the Home Office to discuss the impact. In the eyes of the Government, the Premier League is viewed as a “soft power asset” generating £3.3bn in revenue a year for the Exchequer. But even with the financial contribution leaving the EU will see the Premier League and its member clubs lose certain powers.
One of the biggest issues is how British clubs will compete for the best young talent. For the 27 countries in Europe there has been an exemption from the rule forbidding international transfer of players under 18. Until 11pm on the 31 January 2020, the UK was also exempt, but now the landscape has changed…
FIFA’ ARTICLE 19
Article 19 is a significant regulation that if enforced by FIFA will prevent British clubs from signing players between 16 – 18 years old. Academies across England pre-Brexit are full of the best domestic players up to the age of 16. But the make-up of Academies change, as players enter full time football education from the age of 16, with English teams having the opportunity to attract the best talent from across the EU.
Article 19 will prevent this from happening as the regulation clearly states that clubs must not recruit players under the age of 18 from overseas, unless they were football transfers to clubs from within the EU. Over the years Premier League teams have angered leading European clubs, by scouting and poaching their young players on cut-price deals as teenagers. Many of Europe’s elite clubs have unsurprisingly called on FIFA and UEFA to not give the Premier League any special circumstances and fully enforce Article 19.
GETTING AROUND ARTICLE 19
Premier League clubs have already been preparing for the future and to take advantage of the global football player market. Manchester City network of clubs collectively called the City Group allows them to own and develop players around the world. The owners of Leicester City and Brighton Hove Albion also own clubs in the lower league of Belgium football which would also them to be in contention to recruit the best young talent across Europe. If FIFA’s Article 19 is enforced, it would be no surprise if other Premier League clubs follow similar strategies.
In reverse, opportunities enjoyed by the likes Jadon Sancho to develop their game at Borussia Dortmund would significantly reduce. British players would become “quota players” and in order to play in an EU country they would need to attain a work permit and any move granted until the player is 18 years.
As the UK moves into the second phase of Brexit negotiations, the value of young British players looks to further skyrocket. The enforcement of Article 19 could also help the FA’s desire to increase the number of English players playing in the Premier League. It could also open doors for other countries in South America, Africa and North America to increase the number of players plying their trade in English football. So as the door closes for some, it may open for others…
