VISA CRISIS
DON’T MENTION THE V WORD
David Woodd, Chief Executive of the Hurlingham Polo Association, writes exclusively in this Yearbook on the current visa crisis and what is being done behind the scenes to ensure the continuity of the sport. PICTURES BY IMAGES OF POLO
P
olo is close to being unique in that it is a competitive pro-am sport with some teams pro heavy, others pro light, a few all pro and a good number all amateur, especially at the lower levels. Those professional players who need a visa to play here are subject to the same Home Office criteria as other sports, namely, they must be recognised as an international sports person of the highest level and must be playing the sport in this country at the highest level and can only take supplementary employment at that level for a limited number of hours per week. As far as polo is concerned, the level rather than the hours is the issue While between 2004 and 2016, only one licence was suspended, in October 2016 the Home Office suspended all those it visited – a total of 15 – plus the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) as the endorsing body. The Home Office then decreed that visas would only be given to players five goals or above playing the high-goal (18 goals and above) and that visas would only be granted to those grooms working for those players. During initial negotiations with the Government, conducted by the HPA and aided by the Federation of International Polo (FIP), the five goals handicap was reduced to four goals for players and 18 to 15 goals for the minimum level of play. In addition, and just as crucially, grooms were allowed visas if working for those playing the medium- and high-goal. Nevertheless, it quickly became clear this was unworkable. Hence, the importance of educating those in positions of influence, within Parliament and the Civil Service is vital. So, in October 2017, at the instigation of Robert de By and
Chancellor of the Exchequer 30 Robert de By and the
Siobhan Barney (both members of Guards Polo Club) an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for polo was created with the help of and under the Chairmanship of the Rt Hon John Whittingdale OBE, MP, a former Secretary of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Last summer this APPG, along with Robert and Siobhan, who have been instrumental in providing access and information to key ministers, attended the final of the 2018 Cartier Queen’s Cup to help improve these influential MPs’ understanding of the sport. The day was considered a success and it is hoped to be the first of many such visits. Of course, many MPs have been and are
supportive, but John Whittingdale’s strong advice to the HPA has been consistent: “Work quietly behind the scenes to gain the support of MPs by producing hard facts, such as an Economic Impact Assessment,
THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATING THOSE IN POSITIONS OF INFLUENCE, WITHIN PARLIAMENT AND THE CIVIL SERVICE, IS VITAL
and be wary of publicity”. Unfortunately, there is little support for polo amongst the wider electorate and MPs may not appreciate being listed as a champion of a game perceived by many to be elitist and played mainly by the very wealthy. The APPG Chair was also emphatic that individual campaigns tend to confuse rather than help. After further negotiations by the HPA and meetings with ministers by Robert de By, including with the Immigration Minister the Rt Hon Caroline Nokes in November of last year, the last in a series of concessions for 2017-2019 was granted enabling players with a minimum of four goals to come and play medium-/high-goal and grooms to come in for all levels of players and all levels of play again for 2019.
At a subsequent meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in December 2018, representatives of the HPA, the Argentine Polo Association (AAP) and the English and Argentine players’ associations agreed that the immediate priorities should be:
• Seek an agreement to allow, as a trial, non- EEA players with a valid visa for 15-goal and above to play 12- and 8-goal polo with their employers in the 2019 season • Engage with the Home Office to develop an application process for appropriately qualified non-EEA polo players to work with clubs in the UK in 2020 to coach and help to develop the game at grassroots level
I am delighted to report that the first bullet has been met and that the Home Office has agreed to discuss the second this June. Prior to that, a working group, which will include a representative from Guards Polo Club, Cowdray Park, the AAP and the English and Argentine players’ associations, will meet to consider how this could work best and look at any other visa issues.
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