Language tests for football players set to challenge big-money deals
Posted by Jaiken Struck on January 28th, 2009
Even though football might be considered a universal language by some, language barriers do not stop at the stadium gates. With more and more players from outside Europe, the new visa system requires anyone from a non-EU country to demonstrate a basic knowledge of English. The new regulations which are coming into force in autumn 2009 are the basis upon which a three-year working permit is allocated.
“I believe that if you go to a foreign country you have to have the ambition to speak the language”, says Arsène Wenger, the French manager of Arsenal Football Club. He stresses the importance of learning the language when moving to another country in order to adapt culturally. “If you want to understand the culture of a country, it is very difficult if you do not speak the language.”
Wenger is, however, concerned that a player could deliberately fail the tests which have to be taken after the first year of residence in the UK. This could appear like a feasible solution to those who have been wooed by another club, but would possibly result in the loss of major investments by the previous club.
Another question remaining is how language issues among players from the various European countries are to be resolved, with no language assessment policy in place for these.
Read more: Times Online, Arsenal.com
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