England: federation wants to reduce the arrival of non-EU players by 50% in 2015-16

The FA (English Football Association) wants to reduce the number of new non-EU players in England by 50% for the 2015-16 season, announced the federation on 17/09/2014.

This objective is part of the plan of the FA, presented on 17/09/2014, which provides new guidelines for the work permit criteria (see-below) required for non-EU players to transfer into the English leagues.

The new criteria are "designed to result in visas only for those elite sportspeople ‘who are internationally established at the highest level whose employment will make a significant contribution to the development of their sport at the highest level in the UK,'" read the FA statement.

The proposed changes fall under the Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) process, was introduced by the Home Office in 2008 to allow the governing body of each sport to manage a systematic objective approach for endorsing visa applications of elite players from non-EU countries.

Proposals to be presented to the public authorities later in 2014

• The FA must consult with the Premier League, the Football League (the English second, third…