UEFA to limit influence of foreign players

Martyn Ziegler

UEFA will eventually insist on eight players in a 25-man squad being home-grown four trained within a club's academy and four within the same national association as part of an effort to limit the influence of foreigners.

European football's ruling body will also press ahead with plans for the measure to be adopted in domestic competitions though that has yet to be agreed by the national associations.

The new rule for European competitions will be introduced from the 2006-07 season with clubs needing to include a minimum of four home-grown players two from within the club and two from the same association in a squad. That number will be increased to six the following season and eight in 2008-09.

UEFA define a club-trained player as one who has been registered for a minimum of three seasons with the club between 15 and 21.

Of the 32 sides in last season's Champions League, Arsenal, Chelsea, Celtic, Rangers and Ajax would have not had enough home-grown players to meet the requirement of eight.