Potential signings from South America, Africa or the Far East will have to pass an English language test, covering everyday phrases and simple conversation.

The test forms part of a points-based immigration system, which ministers say will cut the number of immigrants entering Britain by around 20,000 a year.

Ministers have decided to exempt one-off athletes attending sporting events, like the London Marathon and Wimbledon, or performers at festivals including Glastonbury and Edinburgh.

And they rejected previous proposals to insist that migrants understood English up to GCSE level.

A Home Office document released on Tuesday stated that skilled worker migrants from non EU countries will be expected to "to understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases, to introduce themselves and others and ask and answer questions about basic personal details".

Home office minister Bryne said: "Footballers are not exempt from language tests, there will be no special treatment.

"There will have to be a basic standard of English, not GCSE or A-Level, but a basic command.

"We do not expect people to come and work and work alone. They will be more successful members of society if they can speak a bit of English."

As well as having to meet the English language criteria, the player will have to be sponsored by a club and approved by governing body, the FA.

EU players will not need to meet the criteria.

The Bosman ruling means players from the European Economic Area - the EU member states plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein - do not need permission to play in the UK.

The new Australian-style points-based system will mean businesses will have to show that they cannot find British workers by advertising the post for two weeks.

Employers will need a licence from the UK Border Agency to offer jobs to non-EU skilled workers.

Businesses can be slapped with fines of £10,000 if they break the rules.

As well as passing the English test, immigrants will have to show that their proposed work is skilled, that they will earn more than £24,000 per year, or are well-qualified.

Mr Byrne added: "Our new points system means that British jobseekers get the first crack of the whip and that only the skilled migrants we actually need will be able to come."

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