Football
ESPN staff 8y

UK's EU exit could affect Gareth Bale's Real Madrid future - lawyer

Gareth Bale's status at Real Madrid could be under threat because of the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union, according to a sports lawyer.

Teams in Spain are among those subject to a cap on non-EU players, something Wales international Bale would become when the UK's separation is made official.

Technically Real would now be over the limit of three because of the presence of James Rodriguez, Danilo, Casemiro and Bale, but reports suggest it could take anywhere between two and seven years for the withdrawal to be ratified.

Sports lawyer Carol Couse of Mills & Reeve told AS: "From a football perspective I guess we have the likes of Gareth Bale and when we're talking of those sorts of players, yes, in theory there may be constraints on their employment elsewhere.

"The likes of Italy and Spain have caps on non-EU players so down the line Gareth Bale may be considered a non-EU player and subject to this cap.

"But I think those players of the very highest calibre they're going to be recruited in any event. I think it is probably the less high calibre players that may struggle."

^ Back to Top ^