Soccer

English Premier League to hear update on Brexit effect on overseas players

Will Republic of Ireland skipper Seamus Coleman be considered an overseas player for Everton after Brexit?
Will Republic of Ireland skipper Seamus Coleman be considered an overseas player for Everton after Brexit? Will Republic of Ireland skipper Seamus Coleman be considered an overseas player for Everton after Brexit?

TOMORROW'S scheduled English Premier League shareholders' meeting in London will hear an update on the league's talks with the Football Association and British Government about the status of overseas players after Brexit.

Under the current rules, any player from a European Union or European Economic Area country is free to work here, while players from elsewhere need work permits.

With the United Kingdom set to leave the EU next year, European players will, in theory, have to be treated in the same way as non-Europeans are now.

At present clubs must have eight homegrown players in their 25-man squads, but the FA wants to increase that to 13 in order to give English-qualified talent more playing time.

The clubs, on the other hand, see Brexit as an opportunity to streamline the work permit process and make it easier and cheaper to buy talent from around the globe. If they get their way on that, they would be willing to cut the number of foreign players, but not by as much as the FA wants.

It is understood that the Premier League's counter-offer on the homegrown quota is 10, an increase of two, with several sources describing the negotiations as "haggling".

The Sport and Recreation Alliance, the umbrella body that represents 320 national governing bodies, has been lobbying government on behalf of the sector to make sure its members are not hurt by Brexit.

Its policy manager Leigh Thompson told PA Sport: "The FA and the Premier League are doing the right thing by setting out their positions and trying to find common ground. It might not be easy to do, but a successful England team and a thriving league are not mutually exclusive.

"But there is still so much uncertainty surrounding this subject, as we do not know the terms of the EU withdrawal agreement, or if we will even get one, which poses questions for the rights of EU citizens already here, but also British citizens, like [Borussia Dortmund's] Jadon Sancho, abroad.

"Whatever we decide, we must remember that we export talent, too, and these things will be reciprocal."

While all matters Brexit remain in the balance, there appears to be only one question left for the Premier League in regards to the introduction of Video Assistant Referees - when?

The league decided against rolling out VAR this season, but an update on the system's trials is on the agenda on Thursday and PA Sport understands there is a good chance the clubs will press on with a vote to introduce it next season.