A FORMER footballer who became a cult hero in Scotland – thanks to EU rules allowing people freedom of movement between member states – fears Brexit could damage the game.

Angolan Jose Quitongo was given an EU passport that allowed him to play for Hamilton Academical, Hearts and St Mirren – after he qualified through the fact he had lived and worked in Portugal during a stint with Benfica.

Restrictions on freedom of movement are being mooted by the UK Government post-Brexit, which would possibly have prevented him playing in Scotland.

Mr Quitongo, 42, pictured with his 18-month-old daughter Kiki at home in South Lanarkshire, has a son Jai who now plays for Morton and the Scotland under-21s.

He said he could not “understand why anyone would think these restrictions are a good thing. All the 18 and 19-year-olds on the continent want to come to England and some will have thought about Scotland.

“Being able to move, to play, to experience different clubs in different countries has been fantastic and it’s sad others may be denied this.

“Why do we want to go down this road? It really is a shame.”