UEFA: 'Manchester City can use fewer homegrown players in Champions League'

UEFA have confirmed that Manchester City will not have to name eight homegrown players in their Champions League squad for the 2014-15 season.

The governing body usually insists that sides taking part in the competition have eight players that have come through youth systems in their home countries, but the Premier League champions will need to name just five in their reduced 21-man squad next season.

UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino told Sky Sports News: "It came after a request from the players' union FIFPro saying when you take these kind of sanctions and measures you cannot harm the players and the rights of a player who has a contract for the behaviour of the clubs.

"So we looked at it and it was felt appropriate there for the number to be proportionally reduced as well."

City and French champions Paris Saint-Germain were both handed squad restrictions for the Champions League and fines after being adjudged to have broken UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules.