Estudiantes accept QPR's offer for Duvan Zapata

[stanistheman]

As said perhaps he should claim Asylum here and say he is in fear of being kidnapped (which seems to be some sort of a South American passtime/way of living).
Seriously though, I doubt QPR would get a work permit for him.

I read the two comments on the Sky Sports link andI guess the answer to this one "How are QPR going to fall within the financial fair play rules considering the Fees that they are paying for players such as Hooper and Zapata as well as their huge squad which they are paying big wages for? I guess we'll find out in the next few years. "is the same way that clubs like Man City, PSG & Monaco.

The sponsorship deal with Air Asia could be worth £120M!

[Jeems]

As said perhaps he should claim Asylum here and say he is in fear of being kidnapped (which seems to be some sort of a South American passtime/way of living).
Seriously though, I doubt QPR would get a work permit for him.

I read the two comments on the Sky Sports link andI guess the answer to this one "How are QPR going to fall within the financial fair play rules considering the Fees that they are paying for players such as Hooper and Zapata as well as their huge squad which they are paying big wages for? I guess we'll find out in the next few years. "is the same way that clubs like Man City, PSG & Monaco.

The sponsorship deal with Air Asia could be worth £120M!

Reply and tell him its ok, Norwich are paying Hoopers wages for us.

[Dazzer1977]

West Ham pulled out of a deal for him, wasn't confirmed as to whether it was because of the work permit or for other reasons!

With regards to work permits, players have to participate in a certain percentage of games in order to fulfill the requirements of the permit granted. Maybe at West Ham his starts might have been limited. See below...


Criteria
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 United Kingdom 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).


Initial applications
To be eligible for a work permit:
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
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; and
- 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
Prior to submitting an application, clubs should provide written confirmation of the player's international appearance record over the preceding two years highlighting the competitive 'A' matches. This should be obtained from the player's home association. The sports and entertainments team, UK Border Agency, will be unable to make a decision on the application until written evidence is provided. If any evidence submitted needs verifying, the sports and entertainments team, UK Border Agency, will liaise with other parties and verify all information through all available sources, if necessary.


Injuries
Exclusion from selection for international matches due to injury or suspension will be taken into consideration when applying the criteria. Clubs should submit supporting evidence in such cases stipulating the games the player has missed.

It should be noted that where a player is listed as on the substitutes' bench, he will not be considered as injured when reaching a decision on a work permit application.


FIFA rankings
There are currently 204 international teams listed in the official FIFA world rankings. Those countries which have regularly achieved a 70th placing or higher over a period of two years are regarded as nations who have competed regularly at a highly competitive international level and have players of the highest standard who have contributed consistently to the achievement of that world ranking.

The sports and entertainments team, UK Border Agency, will produce the aggregated two-year rankings list on a monthly basis when the official FIFA world rankings are published and those countries ranked 70th or above meet the criterion. The aggregated rankings can be downloaded from this website. If clubs have any queries about the rankings they should contact the sports and entertainments team, UK Border Agency.

[Tarbie]

With regards to work permits, players have to participate in a certain percentage of games in order to fulfill the requirements of the permit granted. Maybe at West Ham his starts might have been limited. See below...


Criteria
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 United Kingdom 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).


Initial applications
To be eligible for a work permit:
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
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; and
- 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
Prior to submitting an application, clubs should provide written confirmation of the player's international appearance record over the preceding two years highlighting the competitive 'A' matches. This should be obtained from the player's home association. The sports and entertainments team, UK Border Agency, will be unable to make a decision on the application until written evidence is provided. If any evidence submitted needs verifying, the sports and entertainments team, UK Border Agency, will liaise with other parties and verify all information through all available sources, if necessary.


Injuries
Exclusion from selection for international matches due to injury or suspension will be taken into consideration when applying the criteria. Clubs should submit supporting evidence in such cases stipulating the games the player has missed.

It should be noted that where a player is listed as on the substitutes' bench, he will not be considered as injured when reaching a decision on a work permit application.


FIFA rankings
There are currently 204 international teams listed in the official FIFA world rankings. Those countries which have regularly achieved a 70th placing or higher over a period of two years are regarded as nations who have competed regularly at a highly competitive international level and have players of the highest standard who have contributed consistently to the achievement of that world ranking.

The sports and entertainments team, UK Border Agency, will produce the aggregated two-year rankings list on a monthly basis when the official FIFA world rankings are published and those countries ranked 70th or above meet the criterion. The aggregated rankings can be downloaded from this website. If clubs have any queries about the rankings they should contact the sports and entertainments team, UK Border Agency.

Worded like that it does seem pretty unlikely that Zapata will get a work permit!

[12321]

I don't think he's represented his country at the highest level (open to correction though!) so falls at first hurdle. Why are we going through with this charade; we're all stocked up with smokescreens.....

[Felt]

Worded like that it does seem pretty unlikely that Zapata will get a work permit!

What idiot makes these policies, seriously? The fact that players from any team outside the top 70 are denied is ridiculous.

[Tarbie]

What idiot makes these policies, seriously? The fact that players from any team outside the top 70 are denied is ridiculous.

There needs to be something in place. If you could just sign any player from anywhere then opportunities for young English players would be far more limited!

[herman bloom]

This reminds me of that Brazilian striker we tried to sign under Hughes. Had no chance of him getting a work permit, but spent ages dicking around with fees etc anyway. Hopefully the club has done a bit more homework this time and thinks it has a case.

[Superhoops61]

Looks a good player fingers crossed

[acricketer]

Our Benteke?

[MattyRangers]

Our Benteke?

Or our Marco Boogers?

[Rangers77]

Is it difficult for foreign players to come to play in the UK?? Shame it wasn't more difficult for the likes of Traore, Mbia, Diakite etc

[Shania]

Colombia is rated third in the world now.

[QPR Richard]

Is it difficult for foreign players to come to play in the UK?? Shame it wasn't more difficult for the likes of Traore, Mbia, Diakite etc

Depends where in the yookay you mean. The standard among the various leagues and associations is massively different.

[jmelanie]

Is it difficult for foreign players to come to play in the UK?? Shame it wasn't more difficult for the likes of Traore, Mbia, Diakite etc

Traore, Mbia and Diakite (as well as Faurlin and Taarabt) all came to England from EEA Countries and so they already had visas. It seems that it is easier to get a visa for EEA countries (the young Brazilian finished up in Spain as far as I remember) and then they can come to the UK with no problem. The only time there is a problem with a visa is when a player from outside of the EEA wants to play in England.