Brexit blocks refugee talent for Scottish football clubs
Partick Thistle legend Gerry Britton has warned that Brexit regulations are preventing Scotland's leading clubs from tapping into the wealth of talent that exists in asylum seeker and refugee communities around the country.
What happened?
Gerry Britton, the former Thistle striker, manager, academy director, and chief executive, is now the chief operating officer with Street Soccer Scotland, the award-winning charity which uses football to help people who are struggling with social exclusion, homelessness, mental health challenges, and alcohol and drug abuse.
Why it matters for Partick
Britton comes into direct contact with asylum seekers and refugees on a daily basis in his current role and firmly believes that a lot of them would be more than capable of playing professionally if they were handed the opportunity to do so.
What comes next?
Britton said, "Many of the guys that we work with have got incredible talent. Some of them are phenomenal in fact. They are 100 per cent good enough to play at senior level in Scotland."
League standing: 1st in Championship, 6 pts, 2W-0D-0L from 2 games, recent form WW.
The problem that they have in Scotland is that they're living in a hotel or a hostel. They don't have the means to feed themselves and look after themselves properly never mind play football. So they're up against it from the start. On top of that, they aren't allowed to work until they get granted full status.
Lead at the top: 2 points clear of Ayr Utd.
Gerry Britton also mentioned Mouhamed Niang, the current Clyde defensive midfielder, who joined Partick Thistle when he was a young age. However, he was in the asylum system for about two years and because of that, they weren't allowed to sign him on a full professional contract.
Next fixture: vs Livingston (at home, 2027-01-09) (5th in the table).
Britton believes that integrating migrants into professional set-ups at an early age can bring huge benefits. He said, "The talent is definitely there among these guys. Richard Kone, who represented the Ivory Coast in the Homeless World Cup in 2019, is now playing for QPR and has also been capped by his national team."
Goals this season: 3 scored, 0 conceded (+3 goal difference).
In stark contrast, Scotland, who lost to Morocco and Brazil in the group stages and failed to progress to the knockout rounds, did not have one player from a displaced background in their 26-man squad. The World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico, and the United States this summer highlighted the huge benefits of integrating migrants into professional set-ups at an early age.
What's next for Partick?
The club needs to find a way to tap into the wealth of talent that exists in asylum seeker and refugee communities around the country. With the help of charities like Street Soccer Scotland, Partick Thistle can make a difference in the lives of these talented individuals and bring them into the professional football scene.
