So you have checked with your scouts, agreed a fee with the club, convinced the player your ambitions meet his and that his wage packet will reflect that. You’ve shown his WAG around the town, convinced her that you can accommodate all her shopping needs and after all that the British Home Office refuses to issue said player with a work permit.
Everton looked set to complete the signing of Nigerian international Yakubu Aiyegbeni from Middlesbrough over the weekend only for the Home Office to reject the application. Yakubu, who has played in England since 2003 with Portsmouth prior to his move to Middlesbrough, had not fulfilled the requirement of involvement in 75 percent of his countrys competitive internationals in the last two years.*
Everton expect to hear the verdict of an appeal on Wednesday. If they are unsuccessful it will be a hefty blow considering they have also missed out on Manuel Fernandes, after he opted to join Valencia instead.
Of course, Everton are not the first to fall victim of a rule which is not employed in the other major European leagues.
Arsenal eventually signed Croatian striker Eduardo da Silva in the close season after an appeal to the Home Office. The first application was rejected because the Brazilian-born striker had played only 50 per cent of Croatias internationals. The appeal was only accepted when Arsenal argued that da Silva had been involved for his adopted country in all their matches in the past year.
The ruling has also seen English clubs withdraw from bidding for some of South Americas most talented young players. Alexandre Pato, the 17-year-old midfielder who signed for Champions League winners AC Milan in the summer had originally attracted the attentions of Chelsea before they realised he would not qualify for a permit.
So is it time to get this peculiar ruling changed? Or is it worth keeping in place for the protection it offers to home grown players?
Patrick Johnston, London
*Note: You can read the guidelines on work permits for international players here at workingintheuk.gov.uk
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6 comments so far
The deal will go through on appeal. They always do when it’s a big club. (I know “big” is stretching a point with Everton, but you know what I mean.)
- Posted by LondonIf it’s generally expected that such decisions are overturned at appeal, the rule seems a little pointless. But really - a team that’s never been relegated out of the top flight in England should be considered a big team.
- Posted by fionaIts a formality. He onyl didnt play 75% of Nigeria games because he fell out with the coach. The Home office had no choice but to reject it otherwise they’d have breech there own rules. The correct procedure has been followed by the home office and its own rules.
Given that the work permit rules are designed to stop untalented foreign footballers from taking untalented british footballs jobs, Yakubu has no danger of coming close to even having his appeal rejected.
Apart from Thierry Henry, no one has scored more Premier League goals in the last 4 years than Yakubu.
And Everton ’stretching’ to being a big club? Arh. You must be one of those people who thought football started in 1992.
Infact Everton are the 4th most succesful club in English Football History. Formed in 1878. 9 time Champions of England. 5 Times FA Cup Winners. Uefa European Cup Winners Cup Winners. Relegated last in 1954, and for one season only. Founder Members of the Football League in 1888,Founder Members of the Premier League. I stadium 112 years old.
If you add all the points together since football began, you know who is top of the table? Everton.
Everton are one of the most historic traditional and biggest clubs in England, not really ’stretching it’ is it. Who’s a big club then? Let me guess, Spurs or Chelsea fan?
… but go back to watching soccer am and doing you’re silly little hand claps huh?!
- Posted by JohnOuch! Well, that told me, didn’t it? Was only a joke an all.
And I’m only called London because of this: “Smoke lingers round your fingers, Train heave on to Euston, Do you think you’ve made the right decision this time?”
(My mate’s a QPR fan but that’s about as close as I like to get to the place.)
- Posted by LondonYou must be very young if your parents named you after a Smiths song:)
- Posted by RafaIf its only a formality, then its really a waste of time for the team as well as the government.
- Posted by Nachiket KelkarBut irrespective of that, its high time that Britain changed its laws.
As pointed out in comments above, English teams miss out on quality players, who go and sign up for European clubs. English teams surely will be at a disadvantage in European championships.
There are not many English players who can boast of top talent, compared with players from mainland Europe, Africa and Latin America. So its makes sense in netting talent from countries out there and add value and quality to the teams in England.