PETITIONClosedPetition · petition.parliament.uk
Allow children whose parents are legally in UK to work as sports professionals
Children with permission as dependents of parents who are legally in the UK on a work route, or who have settled in the UK on such a route, cannot be employed as a professional sportsperson unless they are a dependant of a person with UK ancestry.
Last fetched 03 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk
Signatures
399
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 399/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 399/100,000
Background
A child in this situation, good at football, could be discovered by a top UK professional football club but be forbidden to sign with or play for them.
I urge the government to recognise and address the injustice faced by children under this policy. I think it is discriminatory, harmful, and must be abolished to ensure fairness and equality for all children.
I believe allowing a minor to sign with a professional football club is not just employment but an essential educational opportunity that fosters growth, discipline, and excellence.