Are our native English footballers letting the side down – are they really not good enough to represent their own country? So, why are they getting left out of the English squad and being replaced by foreign footballers? Jason McLeod, 15, investigates…
The English Premier League is said to be the most exciting league in the world due to its fast paced, skilful and aggressive clubs. But in reality, do we owe this impressive title to the number of foreign players who have started playing for English clubs over the last 10 or 12 years?
Due to the overpricing of English players, many teams in the Premiership have brought their talent in from abroad. Arsenal, who are one of, if not the most entertaining team to watch in the Premiership, have recently come under fire for the number of foreign players in their team.
A decade ago, this team had one of the best bunch of English players in the Premiership, including legends such as Ian Wright, Tony Adams and David Seaman. Fast forward ten years, and you’ve got a team with, at the most, one or two English players in their whole squad.
There is no denying that English players are more expensive than foreign players, but is this a good enough excuse? Would a restriction on foreign players for every club in England work?
It could jeopardise how entertaining football in the Premiership is, and mean that we risk losing our worldwide audience if we limit the numbers. Supporters from other countries like watching the Premiership because of the mixed and multicultural teams.
FIFA, the international governing body of football, are trying to impose a rule that clubs should field six homegrown players in each football match.
I hope this doesn’t happen, as it would mean most football teams having to buy fewer foreign players, though it would mean an improvement in international football for England, as it gives home grown players more of a chance to break into the top teams.
I do think that there should be a rule which should be put in place to help this happen, but not as drastic as the one FIFA has suggested. We need to find a solution, before native English players lose the chance to show their true colours on the world stage.
About this team
This article was written by Jason McLeod and edited by Ella Parry-Davies. It was published on the Reach for the Sky website.
