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GFA sets ‘home grown’ rule

Local football clubs will have to field at least three “home grown” players in their starting line-ups as from the start of the new season, the Gibraltar Football Association said in a circular.

The GFA defines “home grown” players is defined as those eligible to play in the Gibraltar National squad.

The new regulation comes into force as from the start of the 2016/17 season, giving clubs two months to ensure that they are ready.

The Gibraltar FA has been looking at ways of safeguarding and developing the scope for local football players during the past year.

Calls for a cap on foreign players such as that implemented in other leagues have already been rejected due to conflicts with EU regulations.

According to GFA officials, a direct cap on foreign based players would effectively breach EU regulations on free movement and cannot be imposed locally in the same way as other leagues have done.

Instead the Gibraltar FA have introduced a rule which requires clubs to start matches with at least three home grown players on the field.

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