With the gutting news today about Crocker - it is obvious that anyone with any "previous" can forget about obtaining a visa.

OK, at least we know where we stand - we only target whiter than whites in the future.

But what about those players already here? How often are Visas renewed? Is the same criteria (ie no convictions) applied for renewal Visa applications?

Can we expect to see players already in England having to leave either part way through their contracts or being unable to renew their contracts once expired due to their Visas not being reinstated? If they've been good boys while over here does that wipe the slate clean or do all earlier convictions count even if they were not considered grounds for refusal the first time around?

My worried mind boggles...

From my point of view this stance is well over due in the UK. But will it last.? Will it be accross the board for all walks of life.?

This fine country of ours has far to many of its own criminals to cope with without extras coming in. But I fear that this will not continue.
Will Robert Downey Jr ( for example ) be refused entry next time he is going to be lorded by the great and good of the film industry.

Will Keifer Sutherland ( sp ? ) be refused entry to the UK the next time 24 is launched in the UK.?

I and no doubt others could add to that list of retrobates who have sinned around the world. Is it going to be one rule for one and one rule for the not so popular.?

How do footballers manage to get visas within hours of signing for clubs.? I think especially of those who are not world class and at the top of their chosen profession like Crocker is.

As I say if this is going to be the norm then it can only be good for the UK imo. If though its just the latest thing for the UK to do and is not the case in 6 months then its a bl00dy joke. I fear that it is likely to be proven to be a joke.

just think, half the current aussie squad have got some "previous" on their character reference whether its by belting coppers, drink driving, gettin their missus in an headlock or whatever, they will never muster up enuff goody boys to fill a tourin party again cos they simply wont be allowed to get in!!

the ashes are comin home, i tell thee

Bad news, Cooke's staying in this country for ever!

What about ones over here who get a conviction ???

Shlould there visa be immediatly taken away

Depends if you are a Man City fan

Didn't Feka get convicted last year?

that was my thought when id posted above

Should definatley be a condition of the visa but not sure if it is!

It can be, depends on the seriousness of the offence.

I don't have a problem with Crocker being refused if this is the way the system is gonna be from now on ie if you've been a bad boy in the past dont bother packing your suit case.
America has always had very tough controls on who gets visas. Amy Winehouse is not allowed to enter the USA as she has a small conviction in Norway for possesion on canabis, that's why she wasn't at the Grammy's a couple of years back when she won. If Britain did this I wouldn't have a problem with it.
However, there are over 500 million people in the EU, 440 million of those are not British yet they are all allowed to enter and work in this country no questions asked. How many murderers, rapists, thieves and other assorted low lifes have been or are allowed to enter the UK from mainland Europe?

It works both ways with Europe though Craig. Our criminals and low lifes are allowed to go anywhere in the EU.

In serious cases, people can be banned from countries even if they have the "right" to go there, which is why all passports are checked when you enter the UK now. In practice though, minor offences are generally discounted.

But it's the same for our convicts going elsewhere too.

Oh I fully understand that, but in this case we're talking about people entering the UK. Whats the point in having Visas for certain countries when all of Europe can just walk in?

Because that is the treaty or beloved leaders signed up to I am afraid.

I am starting to think that there is something we are not being told, maybe even something that Crocker hasn't informed the club about.