The British began the process of leaving the European Union this week. Negotiations between the UK and the EU could begin. This could also have consequences for EU players in the Premier League, including several Belgians.
If there is a 'hard' Brexit and the UK leaves the ETA, all players from EU countries will become non-EU footballers, with consequences for their work permits. A player from a country in the top ten of the FIFA rankings must have played at least 30% of international matches for his country in the last two years. For a country in the top 50, this threshold is 45%, and for countries outside the top 50 it is 75%.
Will some Belgian players in the English Premier League have problems? Kevin Mirallas owns 29% of international matches, Simon Mignolet 21%, Nacer Chadli 25%, and Vincent Kompany and Steven Defour only 13%, according to Heat Newsblad calculations.
Fortunately for these players, the measure is not retroactive: anyone already active in England has nothing to fear. In addition, English clubs may apply for an exception so that freedom of movement for EU players remains possible. (Fausto by Tajtec/Photo: Belga)
