Premier League Clubs Want Government Protection From Brexit Impact

English Premier League club owners "urged the government on Thursday to explore measures to protect the competition from being damaged by Britain's impending departure from the European Union," according to Rob Harris of the AP. With the British government "insisting it must regain the right to control immigration and end free movement from the EU bloc," the ability of England's top clubs to sign players from Europe "could be impeded." After a meeting of execs from the Premier League's 20 clubs, the owners of Stoke City and West Ham "called for immigration exemptions to preserve the flow of top footballers from the continent." Stoke City Owner Peter Coates said, "We'd expect them to be included (in exemptions), but we have to wait and see." Premier League clubs "feel they could be put at a competitive disadvantage in Europe, where they can qualify for UEFA competitions, if they cannot easily trade in talent from the continent" (AP, 3/30).