Premier League & FA on Collision Course Over Post-Brexit Home-Grown Player Quotas
The Premier League is concerned that FA plans to increase the number of home-grown players in the competition in the wake of Brexit could damage its self-declared status as the best league in the world, causing it to lose its global appeal and even affect English clubs' chances of European success.
The UK’s departure from the EU this month will already soon prevent Premier League sides from signing EU players under the age of 18, but the Premier League fears that ideas outlined in the FA’s latest report could be even more harmful.
EU/EEA membership gives exemption to FIFA’s Article 19, which otherwise bans international transfers of minors under the age of 18.
As things stand, Premier League clubs can sign players from other EU nations from the age of 16. That allowed the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Paul Pogba, Hector Bellerin and numerous others to come through the academy ranks at English teams. That will soon no longer happen.
But the FA could take things further, with the Daily Mail reporting that a 33-page document titled ‘Access to Talent Discussion Deck’ outlines a plan to increase the number of domestic players.
Where the England team is concerned, the national governing body claims there are currently ‘not enough key players in key positions compared to most European nations’.
Within each 25-man Premier League squad, the FA also wants to reduce the permitted maximum number of overseas players from 17 to just 13, thereby also increasing the minimum quota of home-grown players from eight up to 12.
The FA says it wants to avoid situations where there are ‘mediocre overseas players blocking opportunities for up and coming talent’, or ‘benches of young English talent not playing’.
The Premier League argues that the current system is not detrimental to the national team, and warns that the FA’s plans would increase fees and wages – presumably with a greater premium on the best English players, and reduce England’s competitiveness in European competition.
Instead, the Premier League would rather see the introduction of a B team competition, replacing the current Under-23 league and mimicking those seen abroad. It is pointed out that chances for English talents by the age of 18 is comparative with other top European leagues, but by the age of 21, English players have played on average 45% fewer minutes.
The Premier League has been tipped to seek legal advice if the FA pushes ahead with its plans and try to force a reduction in overseas players.
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