{"id":927258,"date":"2026-04-29T22:31:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T22:31:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/927258\/"},"modified":"2026-04-29T22:31:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T22:31:16","slug":"fifa-plan-shock-u21-homegrown-rule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/927258\/","title":{"rendered":"FIFA plan shock U21 homegrown rule"},"content":{"rendered":"

Leeds United<\/a> could be one of the clubs impacted by FIFA\u2019s ongoing discussions to implement a rule where every club must have one U21 homegrown player in their starting XIs at all times.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Whites are fighting to stay in the Premier League this season. A hopeful victory against Burnley<\/a> this Friday going a long way to securing our status.<\/p>\n

Next season, the plan is to continue growing the club and establishing us as one of the most powerful in the country once again.<\/p>\n

FIFA discussing shocking homegrown rule change \u2013 Would force clubs to have one U21 player always playing<\/p>\n

The Times<\/a> have reported on Wednesday that there are discussions over a drastic rule change to be submitted to FIFA\u2019s council soon. The rule is regarding homegrown player development.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s claimed that FIFA<\/a> intend to force clubs to have at least one U21 homegrown player always in the starting lineup of each club.<\/p>\n

These plans are set to be presented to different football governing bodies before a formal proposal is lodged to FIFA\u2019s council.<\/p>\n

The report also outlines the impact this would have on Leeds and other clubs. United are one of the clubs that hasn\u2019t met this criteria once this season.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cAston Villa, Burnley, Brentford and Leeds United have not had a single English U21 player start any of their league matches this season. Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest have included such a player in just one game, and Arsenal and Liverpool only two,\u201d Martyn Ziegler writes.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

How FIFA\u2019s rule change could impact Leeds United and Harry Gray<\/p>\n

It seems incredibly unlikely that governing bodies would agree to implement something so drastic in the near future.<\/p>\n

This would force clubs to start a youngster every week. No matter the occasion, circumstances, or quality of the qualifying players, Leeds would have to follow suit.<\/p>\n

Looking now at Leeds and how we\u2019d manage. Of course, the main current player on our books that would qualify and be fast-tracked to playing is Harry Gray<\/a>. The 18-year-old returns to Thorp Arch this summer after the slog of Rotherham\u2019s futile League One relegation scrap<\/a>. But, he\u2019ll be richer for the experience.<\/p>\n

If Leeds had to start playing an U21 homegrown player every week, he\u2019d be the one you\u2019d look to. <\/p>\n

However, homegrown players don\u2019t have to be from your own academy. So, Leeds would probably see fit to invest in that market. That is, if there was any inkling that FIFA were seriously going to implement this rule any time soon.<\/p>\n

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