If footballers are not given an exemption from post-Brexit immigration controls, then players such as Mata would not satisfy work permit demands

Premier League chairmen have urged the government to allow footballers from the European Union exemption from post-Brexit immigration controls.

More than two-thirds of players in the Premier League are from overseas with the majority from EU countries and clubs fear that Brexit could have a huge impact on their ability to make signings from the Continent.

Others, however, believe that a reduction in the number of European players in the Premier League would give more chances to English players and boost the quality of the national team.

Philip Hammond, the chancellor, has promised that “highly-skilled and highly-paid workers” should not be subject to new controls and the Stoke City chairman, Peter Coates, and West Ham United’s co-owner, David Gold, have called on Theresa May to