Brexit: What It Means For The English Premier League
By Ty Duffy
Britain voted to leave the European Union. The voters’ choice has left much up in the air, domestically and abroad. One question, far less important than many others, is what happens to the English Premier League. Here is a brief breakdown.
Brexit won’t affect international competitions. UEFA is apolitical. It has a much broader membership than the EU (Russia, for instance). The U.K. is already broken up into its constituent parts for soccer purposes if there is a political breakdown. The Premier League will still send teams to the Champions League and Europa League.
Short-term financing may be more expensive. English clubs have a lot of cash coming their way in their new TV deal. That cash is coming their way in Great British Pounds, a currency less valuable and less stable than it was last night. Clubs may want transfers in Euros. Players may want payment guaranteed in Euros. That should be manageable, as EPL clubs still have much more money than anyone not named Barcelona, Real Madrid, or Bayern Munich, but not insignificant.
Player movement will be the biggest impact. The Premier League is the wealthiest league. Free movement of labor within the EU has meant a large number of the best European players moving to England to get paid, without restriction. 432 Europeans played in the EPL last season. At Arsenal and Manchester City, for examples, they comprise nearly half the first team.
International players outside the EU face far tougher restrictions and must obtain a work permit. That permit is determined largely by a player’s stature. The English FA, concerned about the foreign influx stunting English player development, moved to tighten those restrictions in 2015.
Brexit now leaves hundreds of EU players in England and Scotland in limbo. Many wouldn’t have qualified subject to the same restrictions as non-EU internationals. American defender Matt Miazga, for instance, avoided having to earn a work-permit for Chelsea, because he qualified for a Polish passport due to his parents. He probably would not have met the work permit requirement otherwise.
How does this get resolved? Unclear. The waiting period before Britain leaves the EU means it will be more of an issue for prospective players entering the country than currently contracted ones.
EU players subjected to the same work permit regime as non-EU players could have a dramatic impact. Big clubs would still be able to sign established internationals. But, mid-table Premier League clubs and below would find it troublesome. The Scottish Premier League, already on life support, could be de facto unable to sign foreigners.
Foreign players have built the English Premier League into the popular multi-billion-pound international TV colossus that it is. The Brexit vote may have been the vote for a more English Premier League. Many fans, feeling a similar disaffection with their clubs and exorbitant ticket prices, may argue that’s a good thing.