FA officials will refer to their organization as the "English FA" in int'l meetings "to appear less arrogant as they test the water" for a 2030 World Cup bid, according to Martyn Ziegler of the LONDON TIMES. Meeting with execs from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in Moscow on Tuesday, they "floated the idea of a joint bid and agreed to revisit the proposal next year." The "perception of arrogance has dogged England for years," and, while there are no plans for a rebrand, Chair Greg Clarke, CEO Martin Glenn and England Manager Gareth Southgate "agreed to change how they refer to themselves while abroad." Glenn previously described the FA's name as the "ultimate expression of arrogance." He said, "We go to international conventions and say, 'Hi, I’m Martin from the FA.' Which one? Obviously the English, because we invented it. Every other is the German association, the French association. We are so assumptive" (LONDON TIMES, 6/15).
BREXIT EFFECT: In London, Matt Hughes reported the FA is proposing "an overhaul of the loan system that would limit loans between top-flight clubs to British and Irish players after Brexit" as part of its attempts to reach an agreement with the Premier League and the government over new immigration rules for footballers. The governing body views the U.K.'s departure from the EU on March 29 next year as "a chance to increase the opportunities for native players within Premier League squads," whereas the clubs' priority is to "maintain access to as wide a range of talent as possible from abroad." The FA will not push for a formal quota system post-Brexit, despite comments from Clarke that he wants to make it more difficult for "journeyman" foreign players to join English clubs after next year (LONDON TIMES, 6/15).
