Barça's youth players more protected after the UK leaves the EU
The big clubs in the Premier League have become - in recent years - the main danger for Barça's youth system.
Teams like Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United went 'fishing' in the academy with much success, enticing young Blaugrana prospects with professional contracts and the hopes of playing in one of the biggest leagues in the world.
Cesc Fabregas, Gerard Pique and Hector Bellerin are just some of the recent examples to follow this route.
However, the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union (EU) on Thursday has now posed problems for English clubs to deploy the same tactics in future.
As a result of the 'Brexit', the political border that will rise amongst the EU countries and the United Kingdom will stem the flow of players under the age of 18 who are bound for the Premier League. Article 19 of the FIFA 'Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players' regulates this practice and will aim to protect these youngsters.
The statutes explain that "international transfers of players are only permitted if the player reaches the age of 18 years". However, there are three exceptions that allow a deal to occur (in advance):
1) If the player's parents change their residence to the country where the new club is located for non-football reasons.
2) The player lives in a home within a distance of 50 kilometres of the national border and the club of the neighbouring association is also within a distance of 50km from the same border in that said country.
3) The transfer takes place within the territory of the EU or the European Economic Area (EEA) and the player is aged between 16 and 18 years old (Premier League clubs are no longer covered by this exception).
Citizens of the UK approved the decision to leave the EU on Thursday by a majority of 51.9 per cent, a process that will be long to finalise and could bring significant changes in the world of football.
