Fifa considers major football shake-up with new homegrown player rule

Kobbie Mainoo is a homegrown player for Man United (Getty)

Football's global governing body Fifa has initiated discussions regarding a groundbreaking proposal that would mandate all professional teams to feature at least one homegrown young player on the pitch throughout matches.

The Fifa Council agreed on Tuesday to aim to develop a formal plan within the next year following extensive global consultation with stakeholders.

This initiative seeks to enhance playing opportunities for young talents developed within clubs, which often prioritise acquiring and importing established players.

Fifa stated its objective is "a regulatory obligation that senior club teams are obliged to always have at least one homegrown player from the Under-20 or Under-21 category on the field of play."

Fifa is considering introducing a new homegrown player rule (Reuters)

This potential rule represents a stricter approach than current regulations in both national and international club competitions, including the prestigious Champions League.

Existing rules typically require a quota of homegrown and club-trained players within squad lists, but crucially, impose no obligation for their selection in starting line-ups or during games.

For instance, Champions League guidelines stipulate that each squad must reserve a minimum of eight places for "locally trained players" within its 25-player maximum.

Uefa, the Champions League organiser, defines a locally trained player as one nurtured either by the club itself or another club in the same country for at least three full seasons between the ages of 15 and 21. For example, ’s and ’s are considered locally trained players.