UEFA president Michel Platini has backed the Football Association's plans to increase the minimum number of home-grown players allowed in club squads.
The proposal to ensure that clubs have at least 12 home-grown players in their squad, as opposed to the current minimum of eight, was revealed by FA chairman Greg Dyke yesterday.
Dyke acknowledged that the move might upset a number of Premier League clubs, but Platini has thrown his weight behind the idea and suggested that he could look to implement it across Europe.
"This is a position we defend. We're not only talking about England, we're talking all of Europe. Mr Dyke's struggle with the FA is something we share and we agree with him," Platini told reporters.
"With the new leader of the European Commission it is important we establish close relations to see how we can protect home-grown, grass-roots young players in the different countries. We share the same perspective. We will work hand in hand to defend an idea that we think is the right one.
"There is free flow of workers but there are some things that doesn't work well and we need to address it."
Platini was today re-elected as UEFA president for a third term that will last until at least 2019.
Barney Corkhill
