Liverpool FC Forum

[lakes10]

Uefa is to unveil proposals that will limit the number of foreigners in domestic football.
The controversial measures would see clubs limited to 25 players - of which four would have had to come up through their own ranks.

A further four players must be brought through inside the same national football association.

Europe's governing body proposes to gradually bring in the changes over the next four years.

Under the proposals Arsenal's 17-year-old Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas would not be regarded as having been trained by the Gunners because he has not been at the club for three full years.

European football's governing body has been considering the move for some months, but has now put together formal plans.

Under these proposals, set to be agreed by Uefa's executive committee in Nyon, there would be a transitional period starting next season building up to the full implementation of the rule in four years' time.

The final decision will have to be ratified by Uefa's Congress in Tallinn in April next year.

Lars-Christer Olsson, chief executive of Uefa, explained in November: "It is not so much the top clubs but it is those in the middle range who are are importing cheap players instead of developing them.

"In Austria for example, even in the semi-professional leagues they are importing players from Slovakia, Hungary and Nigeria.

"If we bring in a minimum quota of players trained in that country - but of any nationality - then we have to have a limit on the squad size too. It makes no sense if you have 40 players in a squad."

But many clubs have already expressed their opposition to both a limitation on squad size and the proposed regulations governing players.

Uefa's club competitions committee has already urged European football's leaders to be cautious.

Uefa believes the number of foreigners is having a detrimental impact on both the development of the game and on national teams.

Due to of European law they cannot bring in any regulations based strictly on nationality.

Of the 32 sides in last season's Champions League, five clubs would have not had enough home-grown players: Arsenal, Chelsea, Celtic, Rangers and Ajax.

[Paul C]

Interesting post lakes.

[lakes10]

Interesting post lakes.

i would like to take the credit for the post but i got it off the bbc news website

[taff]

I hope so otherwise your a real loon making laws up to support your english players only argument 

[lakes10]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4100743.stm

[dawson99]

its a law they could never enforce. id love it to be capped but its passed that now. all the big clubs would say no, and that is the end of that.

[Woollyback]

What's going on, has diaper-neer infiltrated uefa?  

[stmichael]

What's going on, has diaper-neer infiltrated uefa?  

yeah apparently he works for uefa and is also a steward at anfield. he juggles the two jobs.

[lakes10]

its a law they could never enforce. id love it to be capped but its passed that now. all the big clubs would say no, and that is the end of that.

i think its going to happen so liverpool should start to plan for it now.

[greenred]

How do they plan to enforce the "25 man squad" rule?That would go against all known employment laws as it limits a company`s right to expansion.Mandatory employment of a certain amount of "local players" at the expense of other english or EU players is also completely unworkable and certainly illegal.If there`s any substance to this story than i reckon it will ultimately lead to the formation(led by g14) of a breakaway european super league.

[lakes10]

it would not be illegal, ITS the same at work if the said that they where going to cut jobs theres not much you can do about it.

[dawson99]

there is when u look at clubs who have s[pent 100 million on players. then they would have to offload them or release them on a free, which is unthinkable and would be breaking contracts. a euro super league is indeed the only answer if this law is enforced, and uefa cant afford this, so it wont happen

[lakes10]

also dont forget that a few years ago you could only use 3 none englis players in your team when you played in a Uefa cup game

[lakes10]

there is when u look at clubs who have s[pent 100 million on players. then they would have to offload them or release them on a free, which is unthinkable and would be breaking contracts. a euro super league is indeed the only answer if this law is enforced, and uefa cant afford this, so it wont happen

they hae 4 years to do this so they will have time for the teams to sell them on , most players contract would run out by the end of that time any way.

[lakes10]

Uefa to announce curbs on foreign players

Martyn Ziegler in Nyon
Thursday December 16, 2004
The Guardian

Uefa is to unveil formal proposals for "homegrown" players today in an attempt to limit the influence of foreigners in domestic football.
The controversial measures would see clubs limited to 25 players - of which four would have had to come up through their own ranks, with a further four reared inside the same national association.

European football's governing body have been considering the move for some months but have now put together formal plans. Under these proposals, set to be agreed by Uefa's executive committee in Nyon today, there would be a transitional period starting next season building up to the full implementation of the rule in four years' time.

But many clubs have already expressed their opposition to both a limitation on squad size and the proposed regulations governing players.

Uefa's club competitions committee has urged European football's leaders to be cautious. One committee member said: "We have sent in a recommendation that these measures should not be railroaded through. It is a controversial subject and it needs a lot more consultation with the clubs before it is passed.

If Uefa try to push it through without this consultation then they could end up facing legal challenges."

The final decision will have to be ratified by Uefa's congress in Tallinn in next April.

Uefa believes the number of foreigners is having a detrimental impact on the development of the game and on national teams - but because of European law, they cannot bring in any regulations based strictly on nationality
Lars-Christer Olsson, chief executive of Uefa, explained last month: "It is not so much the top clubs but it is those in the middle range who are importing cheap players instead of developing them."