EPL side West Ham Vice Chair Karren Brady, a key member of the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign, warned of "devastating consequences" for the game if the U.K. votes to quit the EU, according to Josh Noble of the FINANCIAL TIMES. Brady said that, in the event of a Brexit, English clubs "would find it harder to attract international players while fans will be stung by higher costs when travelling to games on the continent." In a letter to football club chairmen, Brady wrote, "Players from the EU can sign for UK clubs without needing a visa or special work permit, making it quicker and easier to secure top talent from across Europe to come and play in our leagues. Losing this unhindered access to European talent would put British clubs at a disadvantage compared to continental sides." Brady claimed that almost 200 Premier League players "would not be eligible to work without the freedom of movement guaranteed by the EU." She said that fans "would be hit by higher costs for away games," while grassroots football "would be deprived of European cash."
Dan Chapman, partner at Full Contact, a law firm specializing in sports, agreed that an exit would "drastically affect the way [British] clubs currently recruit," and hit lower league teams hardest.
However, he noted that "any changes to visa rules were unlikely to be applied retrospectively."
Chapman: "I don’t think it’s being suggested that people would have to pack their bags and head to Dover." Vote Leave, a group that wants Britain to leave the EU, described Brady’s letter as "scaremongering," and said some of the research cited in it rested on "highly questionable assumptions" (FT, 1/29). BLOOMBERG's Thomas Penny wrote with the possibility of the referendum on EU membership being held as soon as June, the campaign to remain part of the 28-nation bloc "is seeking to make the decision relevant to hard-to-reach voters." Brady "asked club chairmen to speak to their teams’ fans about the benefits of staying in to encourage their involvement" (BLOOMBERG, 1/28). REUTERS' Elizabeth Piper wrote with U.K. PM David Cameron "seeking a deal to change Britain's relationship with the EU, both the 'in' and 'out' campaigns are stepping up their arguments before the referendum."
Opinion polls say that Britons "are almost evenly split on remaining in the EU, suggesting thousands of still undecided voters will be decisive and both sides are keen to broaden the debate to beyond economic concerns" (REUTERS, 1/29).
