FIFA are considering a hugely controversial and radical rule change that would force teams to field an Under-21 homegrown player on the pitch at all times.
If the change was enforced by football’s governing body, it would have seismic ramifications on how teams are organised and coached.
FIFA are to present the idea to various bodies in the game and submit an official proposal to their council in 2027, with the idea behind it being that it would help the progression of youngsters trying to break through.
The regulation would be a step further than the current rule enforced by UEFA in the Champions League, which forces eight players in a club’s 25-man squad to be ‘locally trained’.
A locally trained player is defined by UEFA as one nurtured by the club itself or at another club in the same country for at least three full seasons between the ages of 15 and 21.
That does however stop short of dictating to clubs when and for how long to use those players.
Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha has started two games for the club in the Premier League this term
If the rule change passed, it would massively change teams’ behaviour in the transfer market and four Premier League sides, Aston Villa, Burnley, Brentford and Leeds United have not started an English Under-21 player this season.
On the other end of the spectrum are Newcastle and Man City – with both teams giving the most minutes to English Under-21 categorised players.
Nico O’Reilly and Rico Lewis have been the main stars used that fit in that bracket, with one of the pair starting in 30 games.
In terms of number of players used who are English Under-21, Man United come out on top with six ahead of Brighton and Tottenham on five.
Liverpool have only used two, Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni, and given either of them (Ngumoha) a start only twice and the same can be said of Arsenal.
Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest are also down towards the bottom in the same regard, starting an English Under-21 player once each this term.
Feedback will be sought from FIFA about the idea from confederations, national associations and players and coaches themselves.
A Fifa statement read: ‘The FIFA Council unanimously approved a consultation process with all relevant stakeholders for a regulatory obligation that senior club teams are obliged to always have at least one homegrown player from the U20 or U21 category on the field of play, and for the proposal to be submitted to the FIFA Council in the next year.’
