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Guzan Denied Work Permit, will return to Chivas USA in 2008

Brad_guzan_1a_isi_photos_3

                                                                                Photo by ISI Photos

U.S. national team goalkeeper Brad Guzan’s dream of playing in the English Premier League will have to wait.

Guzan was denied a work permit after a panel in England ruled on Thursday that he did not meet the requirements to receive one, a source with knowledge of the transfer proceedings told SBI on Thursday.

What will Guzan do next? He will return to Chivas USA and play out the 2008 season, which happens to be the final year of his current MLS contract.

What do you think of this decision? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Ives,
    Those this mean that Guzan is going to be paid another lowsy $45,000-62,000 salary if he remains with Chivas USA for the remainder of his contract?

    Reply
  2. Ives, can you shed some light for me as to why the FA requires a minimum of 75% appearances for a national team for a work permit to go through? Or is it an entirely different body who requires it? I think that this barrier prevents some talented player from pursuing options in the EPL, as is the case with Brad Guzan.

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  3. Those of you who feel that Guzan should have gone to Celtic because it would have been “easier” to apply a work permit are INCORRECT. Also, those arguing that Villa have to wait a YEAR are incorrect (He must wait until the first of June for the new season at which time Villa may request another permit/panel)

    The criteria for a work permit in the UK:

    Work permits will be issued to international players of the highest calibre who are able to make a significant contribution in footballing terms to the development of the UK game at the highest level (i.e. clubs competing in the Premier Leagues and Football Leagues in England and Scotland, the Welsh Premier League and The Irish Premier League in Northern Ireland).

    To be eligible for a work permit:

    1.A player must have played for his country in at least 75% of its competitive ‘A’ team matches he was available for selection, during the two years preceding the date of the application; and,
    2.The player’s country must be at or above 70th place in the official FIFA world rankings when averaged over the two years preceding the date of the application.
    Competitive Matches

    The definition of a competitive ‘A’ team international match is a:

    World Cup Finals game
    World Cup Qualifying group game
    Football Association confederation tournament game, for example:

    The FIFA Confederations Cup;
    The UEFA European Championships and Qualifiers;
    The African Cup of Nations and Qualifiers;
    The Asia Nations Cup and Qualifiers;
    The CONCACAF Gold Cup;
    The CONCACAF The Copa Caribe;
    The CONMEBOL Copa America;
    The OFC Nations Cup and
    The UNCAF Nations Cup
    International Appearances

    It is NOT any easier to qualify for a permit in the SPL than in the Premiership. Celtic would have faced the same standards. This has nothing to do with Scott Carson and the actual Football Associations get no input in the initial decision, and very little in the appeal process a “panel” review.

    HOWEVER, after 1st of June Guzan will be eligible to apply for another permit, because the same club (Villa) cannot request a panel twice in the same season. Yet unless Guzan has the required appearances for the U.S. it would likely be pointless (this is why Convey had to wait a year after Tottenham’s first application; he didn’t have the required appearances).

    If the criteria are not met:
    Where the player’s initial contract was for 12 months or longer and the club have requested a panel, the Border and Immigration Agency’s sports and entertainments team will consult with the governing bodies by email. They will ask whether the application needs to be considered at a panel.

    If the Panel Appeal is denied

    If the club has previously made an application that was unsuccessful at panel a further panel cannot be requested for the same player during the season. For these purposes a season is deemed to run from 1 June until 31 May.

    For more information for professional footballers visit the official UK site of the border and immigration agency:
    http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/workpermits/workpermitarrangements/sportsandentertainments/footballplayers/

    Reply
  4. of course he was denied. The FA is desperate to find a goalkeeper who is a step above that corpse known as Robinson and Carson is about as close as they’ve got to achieving that. (and he still sucks)
    If Guzan was going anywhere else he’d be in.
    Tim F: absolutely (on both of your above posts). I hope they remember that they next time they are filing BS protectionism charges against the US with the WTO, Goalkeepers are more important than farm subsidies. 🙂

    Reply
  5. I guess i’m the only one who doesnt think it sucks. I never expected Guzano to win his appeal even though the move makes sense.

    IMHO something/some club better than villa will come around. Its unfortunate for villa but in the end i believe it will work out for guzano. Who knows, a top 5 bundesliga team may come in for him or even a top team in ligue 1 or serie a.

    it’ll work out for him in the end.

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  6. OK, so let me see if I got this right. To get into the UK all you have to do is come from any Islamic country and go right on to welfare, but they don’t want any Yanks who may actually work?

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  7. The logistics of Brad’s alternatives are confusing us all. It seems unlikely that he wouldn’t go somewhere else where he would make more money, play in a little tougher league, the mls would get something. Maybe his agent is thinking that next year there would be a much bigger payoff. All of our goalkeepers should be considering anywhere EXCEPT England simply because we have a plethora of talent at the position and we cannot convince a work permit panel that, despite all indications of recent history, American keepers are becoming to goalkeeping what Brazilians are to…the rest.

    Reply
  8. The logistics of Brad’s alternatives are confusing us all. It seems unlikely that he wouldn’t go somewhere else where he would make more money, play in a little tougher league, the mls would get something. Maybe his agent is thinking that next year there would be a much bigger payoff. All of our goalkeepers should be considering anywhere EXCEPT England simply because we have a plethora of talent at the position and we cannot convince a work permit that, despite all indications of recent history, American keepers are becoming to goalkeeping what Brazilians are to…the rest.

    Reply
  9. THIS SUCKS! I would like to address the board for appeal…
    Exhibit A- Brad was the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year
    Exhibit B- The top keepers in the BPL are from the states. Brad would be a brillant addition to the American Keepers contingent.
    Exhibit C- Brad would have been a lock for Villa’s starting keeper position next year. Wait a second, Uh-oh, I was unwawre that he would be taking away Scott Carson’s position who just happens to be England’s number one keeper! Yikes.

    This all could have been different if Brad wasn’t potentially taking away Carson’s spot.

    IVES what is the rule for a reapplication of a work permit. Will Brad have to wait until next year? If so that would be terrible b/c he would thrive in England. If not maybe he will be able to make a move this summer. THIS IS A REAL BUMMER!

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  10. Actually Ted, no one has ever called it the British Premier League on Soccer by Ives.

    This is pretty ridiculous if it’s final. At first I thought the conspiracy theories were stupid, but maybe the Brits are pissed off that our keepers are so much better than theirs.

    Reply
  11. THE REASON THIS HAPPENED IS BECAUSE THEY (THE BRITISH) KNEW THAT GUZAN WAS GOING INOT THAT TEAM TO TAKE AWAY THE STARTING POSITION TO THE SO CALLED “STARTING KEEPER FOR THE ENGLISH MNT” SO THEY HAD TO MAKE SURE THE GUY HAD A TEAM TO START FOR WHILE AN AMERICAN SENT HIM TO THE BENCH.

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  12. By the end of the summer, Brad will have a new team. Some in Germany, France or Holland will come calling and he will be gone. two years playing there and he will end up in England.

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  13. If I remember my history correctly from the Convey case, Villa are precluded from applying for a permit for Guzan again for a full year. It’s more likely that (like Convey) he’ll go to a different team.

    Reply

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