Europe's top clubs were today ordered to invest in homegrown talent under radical new guidelines agreed by UEFA.
The European governing body are aiming to limit squad sizes for European matches to 25 and impose restrictions on foreign imports in Champions League and UEFA Cup games.
The plans are the brainchild of UEFA chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson and are set to be rubber-stamped at the body's annual congress in Tallinn by all 52 member associations, including the Football Association.
Although some of Europe's wealthiest clubs - Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona included - object furiously to being told how to spend their money, UEFA believe they have almost total unanimity among the federations.
The new rules, which would come into effect for the 2006-07 season, would mean four homegrown players must be included on rotas for European club games.
At least two would have to have been trained by the club's own academy with the others developed by other clubs within the same federation. This will rise to eight overall - four plus four - for the 2008-9 season.
A statement read: "UEFA are concerned that some clubs are not training enough of their own players but simply taking them from elsewhere."
