PFA plan for homegrown quota proposal

The Player’s Football Association are putting into motion plans to try and introduce a new rule which would mean European sides would have to start at least three home grown players in every match. 

The PFA, who are set to send their plans to UEFA, are concerned about the decline in young English players playing in the Premier League.

The decline is plain for all to see. The percentage of minutes played in the Premier League by English Under 21 players has dropped from just over 6% in 2005/06 to under 4% last season, a problem which the PFA feel needs addressing.

That is not to say that all the young English talent has disappeared from the Premier League. In recent times Ross Barkley, Ravel Morrison and Andros Townsend have burst into their respective teams and now earning international recognition. There are others, including the likes of James Ward-Prowse and Luke Shaw at Southampton and Nathan Redmond who are also impressing in the Premier League.

The PFA will use these examples to promote the idea that if more players are given the chance, it will be easier for them to break through and become regulars in the Premier League, and then in the national side.

However, the plan may encounter problems. European Union laws have previously blocked attempts to introduce quota systems, calling them unfair.

The PFA hope for a plan, which will include the whole of Europe, for the introduction of three players educated by the club for three seasons between 16 and 21, to play in the first team. To try and avoid blocking like the previous times, they have dropped the idea of nationality and the rule would involve players from across Europe.

The problem is not just in the Premier League. The top leagues across Europe, including Spain and Germany, have all seen a decrease, especially since 2010, in young players in their first teams but the level still remains higher than in Europe.

The FA are already trying to help young players, with the opening of St George’s Park (pictured) to provide better facilities for national squads and help train more coaches to develop the skills of younger players and help them progress into professional football.

The concerns of the PFA have grown in recent days since the news that BT Sport have taken over the Champions League rights in a multi million pound deal, only increasing the pressure of the top Premier League clubs to secure their top four place, meaning youth will be less likely to be given a chance in what effectively is a results business.

With the PFA and Greg Dyke, the head of the FA commission, now looking for the same things, we could soon see a change in the way the youth football system and the introduction of young players works to, hopefully, increase English talent and influence in the Premier League and help the national side to more success.

By Matt

Matt is the owner and chief-editor of the Footy Blog, one of the UK's leading football news blogs.