Non English speaking players...

[benni...]

I was watching GolTV news and I heard a report that the English government iirc, has come up with a rule that all foreigners coming to England to play football must have a basic level understadning of English and must be cable to speak it to a cetain level as well.

Can anyone confirm this, because this is bullshit if ttrue. But Im sure you guys will be happy since it limits the number of foreign players, coaches and the like, coming to take the jobs of the hard working English players and coaches.

I've been looking for a link, but so far no luck.

[TheArgonaut]

From what I understand the rule applies to all workers (not just footballers) coming from outside the EU. Sorry, I don't have a link or anything, I'm just going from memory.

[Placid Casual]

I was watching GolTV news and I heard a report that the English government iirc, has come up with a rule that all foreigners coming to England to play football must have a basic level understadning of English and must be cable to speak it to a cetain level as well.

Can anyone confirm this, because this is bullshit if ttrue. But Im sure you guys will be happy since it limits the number of foreign players, coaches and the like, coming to take the jobs of the hard working English players and coaches.

I've been looking for a link, but so far no luck.

1) There is no English government. It is the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Irelend.
2) It is a requirement for all non EU workers, be they Doctors, footballers or whatever.
3) Don't you think it would be helpful for people to speak the language of the country in which they are employed?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/may/07/immigration.immigrationpolicy

[benni...]

It would be helpful, but why should they just flat out ban people? This current issue is going on in the states right now as well. Its all stupid to me. Its very stupid because even if they do not know how to speak English already they can learn.

Nani could not speak English when eh got here, but he is learning and can now conduct an interview in suitable fashion. But this law just screws top English teams from getting he best foreign players in the world.

This is a very stupid law. Just like the law that says you habve to have a liscense before you can watch TV? How petty... it just screams out Xenophobia to me.

[The Potter]

I assume a requirement to learn English will just become part of the work permit package. Well that would become the common sense approach though it's New Labour so who knows.

[The_ChelseaSupporter]

This is just stupid and wrong. A player is a player no matter what language they speak or where they're from. I hate how xenophobic leagues like Spain and Turkey limit foreigners and I don't want my beloved EPL to become like that too. Furthermore, the league makes more money with more foreign players. All of the brits are already watching so the amount of british players does not affect it, but would Germans watch Chelsea if we didn't have Ballack? Would Portuguese watch United if they didn't have Nani and Ronaldo? Would Ivorians watch Arsenal if they didn't have Toure? I don't think so.

I am a huge fan of the league being as diverse as it is and I hate rules like this with a passion.

[Blitzz Boy]

Insert joke here about how players who grew up speaking languages totally unrelated to English like Tim Howard in New Jersey and Clint Dempsey in Louisiana have learned a little along the way.

[Real Corona]

This is reflection of new British immigration laws. All immigrants, not just footballers, will be admitted based on a points system with basic English a requirement.

For someone such as Nani, such changes are irrelevant, because he is Portugese. Anderson is another story.

[Makandal]

How would they determine whether one can speak basic english, before allowing them to work in the UK? Will there be some oral test they have to go through?

[Real Corona]

How would they determine whether one can speak basic english, before allowing them to work in the UK? Will there be some oral test they have to go through?


Yes,


This is a reflection of a change in British Immigration Law as a whole. Unlike in North American sports, the immigration of Football players in Britain is regulated in much the same way as other occupations. Thus the rules relating to Work Permits involve national team appearances, as a form of non-arbitrary measurement to ensure that there is no one in the EU who can perform the Job better.

[Placid Casual]

This is just stupid and wrong. A player is a player no matter what language they speak or where they're from. I hate how xenophobic leagues like Spain and Turkey limit foreigners and I don't want my beloved EPL to become like that too. Furthermore, the league makes more money with more foreign players. All of the brits are already watching so the amount of british players does not affect it, but would Germans watch Chelsea if we didn't have Ballack? Would Portuguese watch United if they didn't have Nani and Ronaldo? Would Ivorians watch Arsenal if they didn't have Toure? I don't think so.

I am a huge fan of the league being as diverse as it is and I hate rules like this with a passion.

Maybe you should read the article before whining.

The law is for Non EU citizens who want to come and work in the UK. So it wouldn't apply to a EU citizen such as Ballack or Ronaldo.

It applies across the board to any non EU citizen. Imagine you are get into an accident and have to go A & E. Wouldn't you want the Doctor or Nurse seeing you to be able to speak English? Do you think it would be helpful?

[Placid Casual]

This is a very stupid law. Just like the law that says you habve to have a liscense before you can watch TV? How petty... it just screams out Xenophobia to me.

The license fee for the TV pays for the BBC and it is hardly expensive.

Xenophobia? More like protecting the rights of EU citizens. As already stated, it is for all non EU workers.

[The_ChelseaSupporter]

Maybe you should read the article before whining.

The law is for Non EU citizens who want to come and work in the UK. So it wouldn't apply to a EU citizen such as Ballack or Ronaldo.

It applies across the board to any non EU citizen. Imagine you are get into an accident and have to go A & E. Wouldn't you want the Doctor or Nurse seeing you to be able to speak English? Do you think it would be helpful?

I realize that it only applies to non-EU citizens. I think that they should make exception for footballers as they don't need great language skills to be successful. In fact, they should make exception for any profession that doesn't really require language skills.

[benni...]

Its still stupid. Whats exspensive to you, might not be for another person.

Explain to me, what this has to do with protecting EU citizens? Someone from SA wants to play football for his boyhood club, what does it have to do with other EU citizens? You are stopping someonie from playing football/working because they cannot speak English. Like I said, they can learn.

Now you just totally eliminate the option of buying SA talent unless they speak the language.

I know this isnt strictly for football, but its football realted.

[Real Corona]

Its still stupid. Whats exspensive to you, might not be for another person.

Explain to me, what this has to do with protecting EU citizens? Someone from SA wants to play football for his boyhood club, what does it have to do with other EU citizens? You are stopping someonie from playing football/working because they cannot speak English. Like I said, they can learn.

Now you just totally eliminate the option of buying SA talent unless they speak the language.

I know this isnt strictly for football, but its football realted.


I prefer watching BBC without commercial interruption and paying for it. Having a commercial break every 4 minutes is stupid and annoying.

[benni...]

Welll when watching football there are only commercials at the beginning, HT and the end so...

[Real Corona]

Welll when watching football there are only commercials at the beginning, HT and the end so...



And to watch football you must pay for it.

[benni...]

So you have to pay two different fee's to watch football on BBC? [one monthly cable bill?]

[Real Corona]

So you have to pay two different fee's to watch football on BBC? [one monthly cable bill?]


BBC no longer carries the EPL. Sky sports and Setanta have had the rights for several years now. Imagine what the NFL would charge to watch its games on TV if it couldn't sell commercials during the game.

[Placid Casual]

Its still stupid. Whats exspensive to you, might not be for another person.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/licencefee/

For what you get for the licence fee 11.63 a month is a bargain. If you don't like it I suggest that you don't use any BBC resources.

Explain to me, what this has to do with protecting EU citizens? Someone from SA wants to play football for his boyhood club, what does it have to do with other EU citizens? You are stopping someonie from playing football/working because they cannot speak English. Like I said, they can learn.

Now you just totally eliminate the option of buying SA talent unless they speak the language.

I know this isnt strictly for football, but its football realted.

No. You are stopping someone from taking a job from a non EU citizen. A EU citizen has the right to work in any of the member states.

A non EU citizen is subject to the work permit requirements of each country. If you don't like what the UK is doing, take it up with your MP.

Do you not think it is helpful for an immigrant to a country to have a basic grasp of the language? It isn't just about the work place.