League may look into bench rule

Clubs may have to include academy graduates

Last updated: 17th September 2008

Manchester United bench Old Trafford

Substitutes: Changes considered

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The Premier League are considering a rule which would require clubs to name two academy graduates on their seven-man bench.

The League looked into the proposal this summer as part of their debate on substitutes, which saw them increase the number of replacements available from five to seven.

With Fifa and Uefa stepping up plans to introduce quota requirements for home-grown players, the Premier League remain broadly supportive of the idea.

Currently, 14 Premier League clubs, a two-thirds majority, would be needed to pass such a rule, although the proposal itself could be made centrally.

One of the obvious drawbacks of a scheme to include academy players on the substitutes' bench is that some clubs may have two such men in their starting 11 but fall foul of the rule because they do not have replacements as well.

"This is something that has been discussed in the past and may be looked at again - but there is no fixed timetable as yet," said a Premier League spokesman.