Rage Online Blog
Friday, February 04, 2005
UEFA have released details of how they intend to introduce restrictions on “foreign” players in European competition. Rather than set a limit on the number of “foreign” players (which would be illegal for EU nationals employed by EU clubs), they envisage a scheme whereby the clubs’ “A”-squad of 25 which are registered for UEFA competitions will have two places reserved for players who have come through the clubs own academy, and two places for those who have come through the youth schemes of clubs in the same national association. This is set to come into force for the 2006/07 season and the quota in each category will increase by one over the next two seasons, so that by 2008/09 each 25-man squad will have at least 4 club produced players and 4 home nation produced players.
Arsenal vice-chairman, David Dein, has revealed that the Premier League have unanimously opposed the proposals and hinted that legal action may be taken to prevent UEFA introducing such a rule, on the grounds that it is a restraint of trade for the players. He also added that few Premier League squads would currently meet the UEFA proposals. Without the time to peruse all 20 squads in details, I do wonder about the veracity of this claim. No doubt it is true for the “Big 5” (whichever clubs they are this week), but I find it hard to believe that the vast majority of Premier League clubs are unable to produce 2 players from their own academy who are good enough to break into a squad of 25
Arsenal vice-chairman, David Dein, has revealed that the Premier League have unanimously opposed the proposals and hinted that legal action may be taken to prevent UEFA introducing such a rule, on the grounds that it is a restraint of trade for the players. He also added that few Premier League squads would currently meet the UEFA proposals. Without the time to peruse all 20 squads in details, I do wonder about the veracity of this claim. No doubt it is true for the “Big 5” (whichever clubs they are this week), but I find it hard to believe that the vast majority of Premier League clubs are unable to produce 2 players from their own academy who are good enough to break into a squad of 25
Labels: Premier League, UEFA
Monday, October 14, 2002
In case some of you missed this article from the Swiss Times, there is a new technological initiative designed to help referees tell whether or not the ball goes out of play. The system works by utilising a series of chips on the shin-pads and the ball which will transmit a signal to a series of antennae around the pitch, creating a three-dimensional virtual image, and which determines the relative positions of the ball and the twenty two players. The referee, via a special watch, will be informed of an off-side or whether ball has crossed the goal line.
The initiator of the system is a chap by the name of Roland Stucky, a former football player and a German with a large chip on his shoulder about the controversial Geoff Hurst goal in the 1966 World Cup Final (you know, the one that hit the bar and bounced down onto the line but which was awarded on the say of the Russian linesman). According to the article Nurenburg's stadium is being equipped with the relevant electronic gear over the next few weeks and there's to be a public demonstration of the system during the Winter, with the first test involving two teams in a real match scheduled for the end of 2003. Apparently both FIFA and UEFA are very interested in the results of the test, although the cost (200,000 Euros to fit out the ground) could prevent it from becoming widespread.
The initiator of the system is a chap by the name of Roland Stucky, a former football player and a German with a large chip on his shoulder about the controversial Geoff Hurst goal in the 1966 World Cup Final (you know, the one that hit the bar and bounced down onto the line but which was awarded on the say of the Russian linesman). According to the article Nurenburg's stadium is being equipped with the relevant electronic gear over the next few weeks and there's to be a public demonstration of the system during the Winter, with the first test involving two teams in a real match scheduled for the end of 2003. Apparently both FIFA and UEFA are very interested in the results of the test, although the cost (200,000 Euros to fit out the ground) could prevent it from becoming widespread.
Labels: Chips, FIFA, referees, UEFA
