English Premier League hit by Brexit

The English Premier League, considered one of the top football leagues in the world, is expected to be impacted by Brexit.

As Brexit has come true on Friday, players from EU member countries will have to get a work permit to play in the EPL. Before Brexit, they did not need a work permit to play in the EPL and the championship because the UK treated players from EU member countries the same as British players. Once Brexit has been effectuated, players from EU member countries will be treated as foreigners. According to BBC, , around 300 players who have played in the EPL, the championship, and Scottish Professional Football League, will now need work permits due to Brexit.

The problem is that a work permit is not easy for players who wish to join UK leagues to obtain. The work permit has a standard that players from FIFA ranking 1 to 10 countries have to play in 30 percent of their national team's international matches to get the permit, while players from a FIFA ranking 31 to 50 countries have to play in 75 percent of their national team's international matches. Likewise, for players from countries ranking 11 to 20, the requirement is 45 percent while for players from countries ranking 21 to 30, it is 60 percent. Kim Bo-kyung (Jeonbuk) attempted to join Blackburn last year but could not meet this requirement. He turned to the J League instead and eventually has settled down in the K league.

U.S.-based "Sports Illustrated" wrote on Thursday, "The EPL has been the top league because it was open to players from other EU member countries. Because of Brexit, fans and sponsors will leave the league as scouting the finest players from other European countries will become difficult."

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