UEFA approves new player rules
By TIMOTHY JACOBS, Associated Press Writer
April 21, 2005
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) -- A rule designed to increase the number of locally trained soccer players was unanimously approved Thursday by European soccer federations.
Starting next season, teams will be required to have a 25-player roster that contains at least two players trained at their own academy. An additional two must come through systems of clubs from the same country.
Although the rule applies only to UEFA's competitions, including the Champions League and UEFA Cup, European soccer's governing body urged its members to adopt it in domestic competitions.
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The quotas, approved at UEFA's annual conference, will increase to four club-trained players and four from the home country in 2008.
The measure is an attempt to reverse the effects of a 10-year-old European Court decision outlawing limits on nondomestic players within the European Union.
The Bosman ruling, named for the player who prompted the change, allowed wealthy teams such as Real Madrid to assemble talent from all over Europe and neglect the development of young players. Smaller clubs found it cheaper to employ players from Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.
UEFA chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson said some of Europe's wealthiest teams, such as Chelsea and Barcelona, balked at the new ruling because it will restrict their ability to field the best team possible.
Delegates also voted unanimously to extend by one year the tenure of UEFA's executive committee, which includes president Lennart Johansson.
The move means former Germany coach and captain Franz Beckenbauer will be able to challenge three-time European player of the year Michel Platini for president when Johansson steps down in 2007. Beckenbauer is chairman of the organizing committee for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, ruling him out had the vote been next year.
Updated on Thursday, Apr 21, 2005 9:29 am EDT
