Would Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City -- the PFA Player of the Year in 2016 -- have been been able to join the English Premier League club in a post-Brexit world? Mahrez has French citizenship (he is also Algerian and plays for their national team).
Would Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City -- the PFA Player of the Year in 2016 -- have been been able to join the English Premier League club in a post-Brexit world? Mahrez has French citizenship (he is also Algerian and plays for their national team).
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Brexiters argue that homegrown stars like Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur will blossom once restrictions on importing foreign talent from Europe take place.
Brexiters argue that homegrown stars like Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur will blossom once restrictions on importing foreign talent from Europe take place.
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West Ham's Dimitri Payet -- who currently stars for the French national team -- may have been subject to the appeals process for work visas in the UK had he not been European.
West Ham's Dimitri Payet -- who currently stars for the French national team -- may have been subject to the appeals process for work visas in the UK had he not been European.
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Had Britain been out of the EU last year, Frenchman N'Golo Kante of Leicester City (left) would not have met the criteria for automatic qualification for a work visa because he had not yet played internationally before signing for the Foxes. Kante has just signed for Chelsea on a five-year deal.
Had Britain been out of the EU last year, Frenchman N'Golo Kante of Leicester City (left) would not have met the criteria for automatic qualification for a work visa because he had not yet played internationally before signing for the Foxes. Kante has just signed for Chelsea on a five-year deal.
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Pro-Brexiters are hoping that the country's national teams field more players like Manchester United's Wayne Rooney, who is one of England's most celebrated players of all time.
Pro-Brexiters are hoping that the country's national teams field more players like Manchester United's Wayne Rooney, who is one of England's most celebrated players of all time.
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Cesc Fabregas made his Arsenal debut at 16, which would not have been possible if not for a loophole that allows EU citizens to transfer within its member states from that age. Normal FIFA rules stipulate that a player must be 18 to move, unless his parents accompany him for non-football related reasons.
Cesc Fabregas made his Arsenal debut at 16, which would not have been possible if not for a loophole that allows EU citizens to transfer within its member states from that age. Normal FIFA rules stipulate that a player must be 18 to move, unless his parents accompany him for non-football related reasons.
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Adnan Januzaj of Manchester United arrived from Belgium at the age of 16, which would not be possible under potential new rules that govern non-EU players recruited in the UK.
Adnan Januzaj of Manchester United arrived from Belgium at the age of 16, which would not be possible under potential new rules that govern non-EU players recruited in the UK.
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Sol Campbell -- who represented England 73 times and played in the 1998, 2002 and 2006 World Cups -- says British players need to be given more of a chance and restricting the entry of "mediocre" European players is a means of achieving that.
Sol Campbell -- who represented England 73 times and played in the 1998, 2002 and 2006 World Cups -- says British players need to be given more of a chance and restricting the entry of "mediocre" European players is a means of achieving that.
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Former Manchester United and Bayern Munich star Owen Hargreaves (left) says British footballers need a platform in the country, but isn't sure restricting foreign players is the answer. Former United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo (right) may not have been allowed to play in the UK had visa restrictions been in place at the time of his signing at the age 18.
Former Manchester United and Bayern Munich star Owen Hargreaves (left) says British footballers need a platform in the country, but isn't sure restricting foreign players is the answer. Former United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo (right) may not have been allowed to play in the UK had visa restrictions been in place at the time of his signing at the age 18.
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