...and are US players ever eligible? (see bottom of article) http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=466904&CPID=8&clid=47&lid=2&title=Pompey+line+up+T&T+trio
Clubs can receive special dispensations for work permits if they show that the targets are particularly talented despite not having played in enough internationals. Any non-EU player (EU players don't need dispensations) is in theory eligible. Past players that have received them include Milan Baros at Liverpool and, I believe, Saloman Kalou for Chelsea. Yakubu may have as well, though I'm not sure of that one.
Yakubu went to M-brough on an appeal when he said something like, "Well, I would have gotten the required caps for Nigeria but I hated the manager and he hated me, so he never called me up." Arsenal's Denilson did get the "special dispensation" when he was bought last year, not having anywhere near the required caps (0).
Or if there was something like injury or position that kept them from playing the required number of internationals. For example, you generally only get one goalie in a game, so it's pretty tough to get the magic cap number if you're second or third in your national queue. And yes, US players get special dispensation--meaning the work permit goes through on appeal--all the time, most recently with Dempsey, who fell just shy of the cap number.
I don't think there are age exceptions. Wenger basically went to bat for him and said, "The guy will be a superstar". Then he paid €5M for him and the board listened.
In the UK, a special dispensation is a legal mechanism that allows the king to get an illegal divorce, get re-married, and then behead his wife and marry yet another woman if she doesn't provide him with a son. Nobody reads?
typically it means a player isn't elligible for a permit, but one of the big 4 wants to sign them, so that's OK.
I thought Alex Song had a French passport. Anyway, Brad Friedel got into England as a special dispensation - the only guy keeping him from getting the number of caps he needed happened to already be playing in the EPL.
Players who're young enough clearly don't need them (that's how certain English clubs poach young players from continental academies).
I don't think you understand the process. For anybody who doesn't meet the caps requirement, there is an appeal process (the result of the appeal is you either receive or don't receive a special dispensation). Age is one factor among many in a player's body of work to determine whether they're eligible for a special dispensation. But it is neither a necessary nor sufficient condition for one.
As I understand it, it all depends on the type of contract signed. If players are young enough and don't sign full professional contracts (and instead go into youth academies) then they don't need youth permits. For instance, Chelsea have reportedly just signed a 14 year old Slovakian striker. I doubt we've gotten him a work permit.
I believe Slovakia is in the EU. But with regard to your point, aren't these typically "academy contracts", which mean the player can't play in first-team competitions, among other things?
Ya, the "non-pro" contracts - which must also be non-binding deals - are not part of the labor regs. It's sort of like in the US, there's a minimum wage ... unless you're an intern. In which case, you aren't getting paid at all.
No, if one of the big four wants to sign you it doesnot matter. Alex, the PSV defender is wanted by Chelsea and regarded by the AC Milan coach to be the best defender in the world and no he didnot get a special permit.
And an academy contract is, essentially, the same as a scholarship to a university. you're going to study the game, not to perform as a professional (at least not until you pass 17).
It's what I had to get from my wife to subscribe to the overpriced Sky Sports channels. Thinking about it, it's pretty much what I have to get from my wife for anything I want.
but it is a seriously cool system. I was talking (for work) to a guy at his house near birmingham and he wouldn't stop playing with the sky box, (dude, you gotta see this....now this is wicked...F-ing amazing, I tell you...). Have to admit, it was. Not sure it's that much better than my premiere system, but it's all in English, so points there. The game that just ended was in, my choice, german or italian...sigh...)