Norway endorses the home-grown rule

The Norwegian Football Association said that every football club in Norway would need to consist of at least eight locally developed players starting in 2008.

The NFF also stated that to protect the development of national talent that out of eight home-grown players in each 25-player club squad, four will have to be from the club's youth system while the rest must have spent their formative years, between the ages of 15 and 22, at a fellow Norwegian club.

Profitable television revenue has caused the clubs to turn to foreign players in its quest to be a success.

"The top clubs have never before put so much effort into developing their own players," said NFF president Sondre Kåfjord. "But too few of the talented players are getting their chance in the Eliteserien, and that is something we want to put right."

The NFF also decided that starting next year it would increase from two to three the number of non-European Union players allowed to play in any one match.

"The inclusion of quality players from abroad improves Norwegian club football and that is positive for our game," added Kåfjord. "But half of the foreign players in the Eliteserien are sitting on the bench, hindering local talent from coming through. That is unfortunate."

Another proposed change is to increase the number of clubs in the Eliteserien from 14 to 16.

It was not a surprise that the majority of Norwegian top-flight clubs involved with the fight against relegation are in favour of a proposed expansion.

"We need to have some mid-table sides," said Viking sporting director Egil Østenstad. "Every side is either battling it out for medals or fighting against relegation now and so coaches tend to take even fewer risks with local talent."

The formal vote to increase the Eliteserien will not take place until March 2008 and is expected to carry the majority vote. The 2009 season is expected to be the first season with a 16-club top-flight.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.