The Football Association’s moves to scrap appeals to sign non-EU players on work permits appear destined for failure after Premier League clubs opposed the proposals.
Greg Dyke’s England Commission proposed new rules on work permits for overseas players so clubs will no longer be able to go to appeal if they do not meet the criteria.
The FA chairman’s belief is that the changes would allow more English-born players into top-flight clubs.
The Home Office, which awards the permits, wants a consensus from the world of football for any changes but that now looks impossible.
The Premier League is understood to have responded to the consultation process by opposing the changes. The clubs say the number of appeals is so small compared to the number of transfers that it would have no significant effect – only three of the 187 inbound transfers last summer (1.6%) were via successful work permit appeals.
The FA’s proposed changes include allowing overseas players to gain work permits if their transfer fee is more than £10m or they are earning more than £60,000 a week.
The Premier League believes those proposals would put clubs in a position where they might have to overpay for players just to ensure they receive a work permit.
Dyke’s England Commission also wants to ban any Football League club from signing non-EU players, and Premier League sides from sending them out on loan.
It is understood Football League clubs have also expressed serious reservations, while the Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants work permits for overseas footballers to be scrapped completely.
Successful work permit appeals at Premier League clubs
Summer 2014 transfer window
1 Enner Valencia (West Ham)
2 Christian Gamboa (WBA)
3 Abel Hernández (Hull)
Total number of PL inbound transfers in summer 2014 was 187.
Winter 2014 transfer window
1 Lacina Traoré (Everton)
Total number 59.
Summer 2013 transfer window
1 Willian Da Silva (Chelsea)
2 Victor Wanyama (Southampton)
3 Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea)
4 Antolín Alcaraz (Everton)
5 Fernandinho (Manchester City)
Total number 162.
Winter 2013 transfer window
1 Brek Shea (Stoke City)
2 Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)
3 Yun Suk Young (QPR)
4 Kei Kamara (Norwich)
Total number 57.
Source: Guardian
