After lengthy consultations UEFA have proposed the changes to target a number of negative trends in European football. The proposals aim to encourage the clubs to train their own players and restore the competitive balance in areas where teams have a lack of local identity or the “hoarding” of players is an issue. Other trends were also targeted.
If Boro qualify for Europe in forthcoming seasons their set-up and team structure should easily meet the new rules proposed by UEFA, we already have the mix of ‘homegrown’ players that they propose.
At present teams in Europe submit an ‘A’ list and a ‘B’ list of qualifying players. The ‘A’ list consists of a maximum of 25 players and the ‘B’ list consists of an unlimited number of youth (U-21) players. To date there has been no restrictions on either list.
The new proposals state that from the 2006/07 season the ‘A’ list will continue to be limited to 25 players, but at least two places must be reserved for club-trained players, that is players trained by the clubs own academy. A further two places must be reserved for association-trained players, that is players trained by other clubs within the clubs own association.
During the following two seasons one additional place must be reserved for a club-trained player and one additional place must be reserved for an association-trained player, so that by the 2008/09 season, the ‘A’ list will include at least four club-trained players and four association-trained players.
A club-trained player is defined as a player who has been registered for a minimum of three seasons with the club, between the ages of 15 and 21. An association-trained player is defined as a player who has been registered for a minimum of three seasons with the club or other clubs affiliated to the same association, between the ages of 15 and 21. There is no restriction on the nationality of club-trained or association-trained players.
The ‘B’ list will also continue to exist and will include an unlimited number of U-21 players who have been at the club for a minimum of two seasons.
For further info visit the UEFA website.