Future recruits to Brighton and Hove Albion will be forced to learn English before they can join the club, the Government announced today.

Home Office minister Liam Byrne confirmed that new rules requiring skilled workers from outside the European Union to have a command of the English language would cover new signings to sports teams.

According to a Home Office document, Skilled Workers Under the Points-Based System, migrants entering as skilled workers "will be required to speak English to a basic user standard" as part of a tightening of the immigration rules.

Mr Byrne said: "Footballers are not exempt from language tests, there will be no special treatment, one set of rules of everyone. There will have to be a basic standard of English, not GCSE or A-Level but a basic command. They will be more successful members of society if they can speak a bit of English."

The new points-based system for skilled and temporary workers, which will come into effect early next year, will also require Sussex businesses to prove they have tried to fill skilled posts from the resident workforce before looking elsewhere.

Employers will need a licence from the UK Border Agency to offer jobs to non-EU skilled workers and could face £10,000 fines if they fail to stick to the rules. Skilled foreign nationals wanting to qualify for work in Britain will have to earn a certain number of points including a command of English.