UEFA president Michel Platini has revealed that he will introduce legislation to prevent prevent Europe’s wealthier clubs from poaching young players from foreign academies.
The move by Platini would have a significant impact on the bigger European clubs, many of whom have scoured the globe in recent years in a bid to acquire the world’s most promising young players.
However, Platini intends to draft new laws to prevent the procurement by the wealthier European clubs of young footballing talent.
“I have told the European Commission that we should ban the transfer of minors,” said Platini.
“The first football contract that a player signs should be for club that trains them. You don’t train someone to be sold, you train a player to play.
“It is important to protect our young people. Minors shouldn’t be seen as a machine that can be transferred for the benefit of agents or clubs. They have time enough for that.
“I left for another country at 25. You don’t need to leave at 15. It’s to do with protecting social values, family values. There is no justification for buying them at 15, getting them over with parents, that is just not on.
“I really don’t like it when a club like Lugano, Geneve, Brescia or Nancy train a player and then when they are 16 they are bought by much richer clubs. We’re going to fight it.
“I am speaking to the European Commission regarding the specific nature of sport in European Law.”
