Home Office ruling and the adverse impact on non-EU players

That this House is concerned by reports that changes by the Home Office to Tier 4 visa regulations have adversely impacted many teams in the Scottish Women’s Premier League and potentially those in other sports; notes the changes have resulted in non-EU international students already studying in the UK now being unable to play sports on a completely amateur basis if even one player in that competition is playing in a professional or semi-professional basis; feels that this is a very blunt measure entirely lacking in common sense which places unnecessary restrictions on women’s football at a time when every support should be in place to encourage the sport to grow; and calls on the Home Office to urgently review the regulations to ensure that no one on a Tier 4 visa be restricted should they want to play sport without any financial remuneration.