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Home arrow Holyrood news arrow News categories arrow Culture, Sport & Tourism (HCL02) arrow MSP intervenes in football work permit row
MSP intervenes in football work permit row Print E-mail
Friday, 03 August 2007

Labour Highlands and Islands MSP David Stewart has attacked the Home Office for refusing to grant a work permit to Romanian player Marius Niculae signed by Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Stewart, a Caley Thistle trustee, said that numerous other non-EU footballers who did not meet the Home Office’s work permit standards had been granted work permits. He has launched a petition to support Niculae’s case.

Home Office rules state that non-EU players wanting to play in Britain must come from a team that is in the top 70 of the FIFA world rankings, and have played in at least 75 per cent of their country’s international matches in the previous two years. However players who do not meet these guidelines have in the past been given work permits on appeal from their clubs.

Niculae’s situation is complicated by the fact that Romania is now a full EU member, although Britain does not allow Romanian citizens full employment right as with other EU members.

Stewart said:

“I have been approached by the club regarding the situation Marius now finds himself in. When Marius recently signed for the club, like many fans, I was delighted as he is a player of stature, experience and talent who has represented Romania on 28 occasions, scoring 12 goals. This is the club's most significant signing yet and shows the clear ambition of Inverness Caley Thistle to progress further up the SPL to the top six. I have looked at the Home Office conditions which have to be met for the granting of a work permit for a footballer in Marius's circumstances; one is that the player's home country must be within the top 70 of FIFA's world rankings. Romania's national team's position meets this requirement. Another condition is that the player must have played for his country in at least 75 per cent of its competitive 'A' team matches, during the two years preceding the application. Despite his international record as a player Marius, unfortunately, does not meet this requirement"

"These are however only guidelines for an initial application and I am aware there have been many precedents of even internationally unknown non-EU players with no links to the UK being granted work permits. The application by Marius will now go to appeal and the important thing now is to gather support for the legal team to use at the hearing.”

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Last Updated ( Friday, 03 August 2007 )
 
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