Points-based immigration will not impact on visiting sports stars
The Home Office has allayed the fears of the sports industry by announcing that Tier five of the new points-based immigration system (which applies to 'temporary workers') will not generally cover persons travelling to the UK for sports events. Organisers of such events had feared massive administrative costs in securing licences for competitors, but the Home Office has stated that sportspeople will now generally only require visitors' visas.

England 2018 under threat from the taxman
The Central Council for Physical Recreation has echoed the fears of leading accountants that international sports bodies are being put off awarding major sporting events to the UK due to its high levels of taxation. HM Revenue & Customs currently claims a share of international sports stars' worldwide income if part of it is earned in the UK. Whilst the International Olympic Committee insisted that the rules be relaxed for foreign London 2012 athletes, many fear that FIFA will shun England's bid to host the 2018 football World Cup due to tax concerns.

The current rules stem from a 2006 House of Lords decision in which Andre Agassi was ordered to pay tax on his international endorsements income.

Towards an EU policy on sport
The European Parliament has adopted the Mavrommatis report, which sets out proposals relating to TV rights, equality and the prevention of doping in sport. The report:

• welcomes the Commission's July 2007 White Paper on Sport;
• urges Member States and sports bodies not to discriminate on the grounds of nationality in selecting players;
• sets out policy initiatives to mitigate the risk of doping in sport; 
•  insists that key sporting events should be free-to-air, with TV revenues shared equitably through collective selling of media rights; and
• promotes equal pay for male and female athletes.
  
  

13 May 2008

« Back to Article index