Premier League: New Rule About Maximum Number Of Players

According to a new rule in the Premier League, beginning this season, clubs are not allowed to have more than 25 men in the squad, and they are required to consider only the 25 players named, for selection to play during the season.

While there is a maximum limit of 25 men, on the number of players allowed in a squad, clubs can supplement their squad with any number of players under 21 years of age.

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The Premier League teams are only allowed to change the composition of players in their squads during the January transfer window.

For the uninitiated, a "transfer window" is just another name for "registration period" and refers to the period during which football clubs are allowed to employ players from other countries into their playing staff.

According to FIFA rules, a national football league must have two transfer windows. The first, at the end of the season, is not to exceed 12 weeks. The second, at any time during the season, must not exceed 4 weeks.

The new rule has put pressure on teams that have invested on a lot of new players, in summer signings, earlier in the year. Manchester City is a prime example. Mancini's squad have had to send off players such as Robinho, Felipe Caicedo and Craig Bellamy. However, Jo, who came to Man City from Everton, has remained with the squad.

Team managers are only allowed to select their squads for Premier League games from the squad named. There will be no change allowed till January when the transfer window is set to open agan. The only exception likely to be made is in case of an emergency such as injury to a goalkeeper.

According to the rules, every team must have at least eight players who are "home-grown". The broad definition of "home-grown" allows managers to select players who have spent at least three years with an English or Welsh club before their 21st birthday.

Thus, under this definition, Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas is "home-grown" as he qualifies under the requirement.

In fact, none of Arsenal's players are British-born, though some qualify as 'home-grown' players, having played for either English or Welsh FA, for at least 36 months before their 21st birthdays. These 'home-grown' players are: Bendtner, Clichy, Djourou, Fabregas, Mannone and Song.

All clubs were required to file the names of their squads by September 1, after the completion of all the deadline day transfers on August 31. All the twenty teams in the fray filed the names of their squads, on September 1, as required by the rules.

Premier League: New Rule About Maximum Number Of Players

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