US sports lobby Home Office for travel exemption after golf caddie refused UK entry
TRAVEL EXEMPTION:Â Pic: Alex Slitz/Getty Images
Sports organisations in the US will press the Home Office to apply exemptions to new travel rules for American citizens entering the UK after the caddie of golfer Harris English missed out on around £130,000 by being denied access for the Scottish Open and Open Championship.
The case of Eric Larson has alerted the likes of the NFL and NBA, which stage games in London, that sportspeople or staff can be prohibited from entering the UK under Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) rules if they have a criminal conviction. Larson was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 1995 for involvement in drug dealing and rebuilt his career as a caddie for several leading PGA Tour players after serving 10 years.
