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The Premier League has announced the introduction of a homegrown quota for clubs with the aim of reducing squad sizes and helping the England national team.
From the start of next season, top-flight teams will be required to name eight players out of a squad of 25 who have been trained for three years in England or Wales before turning 21 years old.
Clubs can supplement this list with a B' group of players containing as many youngsters as they wish and both must be submitted at the end of each transfer window.
Chief executive Richard Scudamore, who confirmed the rule was ratified at a meeting of all 20 clubs last Thursday, said: “One of the benefits is that it will help the England team. If it concentrates the clubs' minds on under-21s, most of those will be homegrown, by definition.
“We're not going down the route of a nationality test but what this will mean is that you just can't buy a team from abroad.
“We also want to encourage movement between our own clubs. This rule encourages movement between our clubs because as long as they are being trained by someone in our organization, they qualify. Buying homegrown talent is made more attractive.”
Despite the new regulations, Scudamore hinted he would look unfavourably on FIFA and UEFA proposals to introduce a worldwide ban on the international transfer of all players under 18.
Scudamore also announced stricter financial controls for clubs, who must now submit their accounts, and if it is proved they are not run as a viable concern, the Premier League will have the power to impose a transfer ban and stop any negotiations to improve existing player
contracts.
Reader views (3)
What a load of nonsense! All premiership clubs currenty meet this quota. It doesnt stop clubs signing foreign players before they are 21 to meet the regulation, hence this will be of little value to the national team. As for not allowing transfers of under 18's, I am certain this could be challenged in the courts & defeated, as it is an unfair restraint of trade. If a 16 year old English kid can leave school to become a plumber in Spain, why cant he sign for Barcelona! The 25 squad rule, will mean that the top clubs will still sign the best players only fewer, with younger players being in the 'B' squad. The result may mean fewer senior pros, which is a negative step for football. Why not let the free market prevail, the premiership has been superb since the introduction of foreign players & young foreign players have often been given a top class football education. Remember we failed to qualify for the 1974 & 1978 world cup finals, when there were very few foreign players in the old first division. Yet we have qualified ever since, with increasing levels of foreign players the National side has stormed into the World Cup in South Africa, with a good chance of success. Finally, european union employment rules will make any attempt to restrict players playing abroad virtually impossible.
- Rob Gooner, North London, 16/09/2009 15:53
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Good step forward BUT what about the rich sugar daddy's coming in, surely a club should only be allowed to spend with in it's means!
I see UEFA are looking at this, it can’t come soon enough as football is really getting like F1...the team with the most money wins. If this carries on people will get board and the English Premier League will become less popular.
- Del, Abingdon - Oxon, 15/09/2009 21:38
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What utter rubbish! If a Prem team has 25 Scots in it who could easily meet those rules, they could all be 'home grown' but exactly how would that benefit the ENGLAND team? This covers Irish, Welsh and NI youngsters too. And if Arsenal fill their Academy with 16 yr old French kids, they too would then qualify by the age of 21.
- Peter Bench, London, 15/09/2009 14:18
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