The Football Association and Premier League were on a collision course over Brexit on Thursday after Greg Clarke revealed he would lobby the Government to block “journeyman” European Union players moving to England.

The FA chairman drew a line in the sand after two of the country’s most influential club owners, West Ham United’s David Gold and Stoke City’s Peter Coates, urged the Prime Minister to make footballers exempt from post-Brexit immigration controls.

Gold and Coates spoke out 24 hours after Theresa May formally triggered Article 50, notifying the EU of Britain’s intention to end its 40-year membership.

Dozens of top European stars playing in the Premier League – including Manchester United’s Juan Mata and Ander Herrera – would not currently qualify for post-Brexit work permits under rules governing visas for non-EU foreign players.