The players Pote and Daniel Bragança, both linked to Sporting, did not complete their transfers to Saudi Arabia due to the lack of available spots for foreigners in that country. The quotas on non-community players imposed by the Saudi league blocked the deals that appeared to be close to being finalized.
The situation created by Saudi Arabia represents a reversal of what was achieved with the Bosman Ruling, approximately thirty years ago. That historic decision allowed the free movement of players within the European Union and ended nationality restrictions in European championships.
The transfer market thus became conditioned by bureaucratic limitations, transforming, according to the article's title, into a matter of "bureaucracy" where decisions depend on quotas and regulations, and not just on the will of clubs and players.
