Back of the Net!

French moves to push the European Union into banning football transfers involving players under the age of 18 will be discussed this week, with sports ministers from across the Union meeting to discuss the implications of such a ban.

Many have declared the potential ban as nothing more than jealousy - British clubs wealth throughout the last 15 years has enabled them to sign some outstanding players as schoolboys and apprentices without any major compensation being paid to the teams that did the work in discovering the players.

UEFA President Michel Platini is said to have backed away from proposals meanwhile, and not difficult to see why the French in particular are riled.

One of France’s most fierce international rivals is Spain, and their recent claiming of their first major title in years has irked many a Gallic football fan. Meanwhile, one of the EPL’s most talented footballers is Cesc Fabregas - after signing for Arsenal aged 18, he is a player that has made a major impact in the English Premier League, Europe and of course in the Spanish national side.

The French weren’t complaining too loudly when their young stars were all turning out for Arsenal and Chelsea, where they?

Giving any say over football to the European Parliament could, meanwhile, be disastrous. Mr Heaton Harris, chairs of the European Parliament Sports Group:

“If you give the European Union any kind of power over sport it will be very difficult to get it back.

“Uefa are playing a dangerous game if they think they can curb the success of Premier League clubs by appealing to the EU.

“British Ministers must stick up for sports governing bodies and English football clubs and tell their European counterparts to keep their hands off British sport.”

Remember the Bosman ruling ? This ban could be just as controversial, with almost as much of an impact…

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