Ahead of tomorrow’s crucial referendum deciding the fate of the UK’s membership with the European Union, various celebrities from the footballing fraternity led by former Manchester United star, David Beckham have voiced their opinion on the matter.
The UK only last year voted to decide the status of Scotland and are now faced with a crucial referendum that will decide the outcome of their membership with the European Union. The UK electorate will address the question tomorrow in the parliament and celebrities from all walks of life have shared their views on how the outcome of the referendum could affect the future of the country.
David Beckham shared his opinion in an Instagram post yesterday stating that he was in favour of Britain remaining a part of Europe and used his journey as a football player to explain why he believed so. Brexit (portmanteau of “Britain” and “Exit”), the 41-year-old believes, could impact English football and the essence of what makes it the most followed football scene in the world.
In a picture of the United legend celebrating with former team-mate, Eric Cantona, Beckham’s caption, hailing the multiculturalism at club level, read, “we were a better and more successful team because of a Danish goalkeeper, Peter Schmeichel, the leadership of an Irishman Roy Keane and the skill of a Frenchman in Eric Cantona.”
“We live in a vibrant and connected world where together as a people we are strong. For our children and their children we should be facing the problems of the world together and not alone. For these reasons I am voting to Remain.”
Wenger fears for the impact Brexit will have on English football
An experienced campaigner of the Premier League managerial circuit, Arsene Wenger explained in more detail how Brexit could impact English football. He believes it will become a lot difficult for clubs to attract players from the bloc of 28 countries that form the European Union. Foreign players from across the same continent may have to secure work permits to play in the Premier League which at times could hinder negotiations between clubs.
He told the Guardian, “It raises many questions. Will the European players be considered as they are now? For example, if England votes for Brexit, will the French be considered like South American players [who require work permits]?”
“That would completely requestion the influx of foreign players. Will England go that way? If they did, that would leave the Premier League with some questions.”
The Arsenal boss added that, leaving the EU risks supporters missing out on seeing emerging talents from Europe coming to play at their clubs. The Gunners have been linked with a number of foreign players themselves like Alvaro Morata, Jay Rodriguez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan this summer. And a lot of how the club proceeds with those transfer targets could be decided in tomorrow’s crucial vote.
Remain campaigners seized on the Frenchman’s comments to claim that leaving would ‘disfigure the beautiful game in the country’. The likes of Gerard Houllier, Per Mertesacker, John Barnes, Gary Lineker etc have all expressed their opinion favouring UK’s presence in the European Union.
Personally I believe there are plenty of reasons to remain, but barely any to leave. Love Europe, love being part of Europe. #Remain
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 22, 2016
Brexit’s Impact on future Transfer dealings
EU membership allows European players to easily sign for Premier League teams. But a Brexit could limit freedom of movement meaning some players cannot automatically qualify for work permits.
They could instead be subjected to the same FA regulation as players around the world – a points-based system, partly decided by the proportion of recent international matches a player has been selected for. As a result the league will struggle to bring in talent quite as easily as before. Which means signings like that of N’Golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez, Hector Bellerin, Dimitri Payet etc wouldn’t have been possible had the UK been outside of Europe.
It seems evident that a large majority of the footballing fraternity would like the British voting public to remain an EU member keeping in mind the future of the sport in the country.