FA moving forward with rule changes for work permits

For a more in-depth examination of this issue, especially as far as how it would (or, really, wouldn't) affect Chelsea, you should check out Jake's excellent article from October.  Consider that your pre-work, so that we're all on the same page.

In any case, after proposing these changes as part of FA chairman Greg Dyke's "investigation" into why top English clubs keep buying the best players from around the world rather than the not quite as good players from the domestic pool of talent, the FA are determined to push ahead with the changes and enforce them starting at the end of the current transfer window.  So after January, no more appeals (sorry, Willian!).  Of course, under the new rules, Willian would qualify for a work permit without question in the first place.

The proposed rules are as follows:

• No more appeals, unless a procedural error occurred during the original work permit application and decision
• International appearance threshold cut to 30% from 75% (for Top 30 teams in the FIFA ranking only).
• International FIFA ranking overall threshold raised to Top 50 from Top 70.
• Players with transfer fees over £10m are exempt and receive work permit automatically.

Bertrand Traoré, come on down.  Your work permit awaits!  (Maybe.)