How to keep the Lionesses roaring OUR GIRLS
FOOTBALL FA quota bid to encour age Brit players in Super League
THE Football Association is looking to protect the England women’s team by bringing in a quota system.
The game’s governing body believes that domestic talent in the Super League will thrive if the number of foreign players is curbed.
Officials will be discussing restrictions during the coming season with a view to bringing in the new rules from the start of the 2020-21 campaign.
The spectre of Brexit is currently stalling any progress on the issue but with the success of the national team seen as a crucial driver of the women’s game, the FA wants to act.
The split between homegrown and overseas players is 50/ 50 – but the number of imports has risen steadily during the past few seasons. Kelly Simmons, director of the women’s professional game, outlined the plan, saying: “One of our jobs this year is to sit down and agree a policy on Englandqualified players.
“We have to do something because of Brexit.
“First, we need to agree our position as a league. Then we need to discuss what we are going to do to protect Englandqualified players. There are big discussions to be had.
Balance
“We need to do this because a successful England side is massively important for the women’s game.
“If you look at the metrics and measures surrounding the Lionesses – with 11.7 million people watching the World Cup semi-final – the ability to make our players household names through the Super League is vital. What we need is a balance. We need to develop English players alongside the best in the world to make sure we have a brilliant league.
“That is the best outcome for us.
“The England’s women’s team is hugely important. It helps us grow the game.
“In that context, we need to get the right balance and find a solution.”
The Football Association has also revealed that professional elite female officials may be on the horizon too.
They have been speaking to the Professional Match Game Officials’ Ltd representatives – who run the Premier League – and are looking to fast-track the best.
Simmons added: “There are two key questions for us to answer.
“How do we support referees in the Super League? And how do we accelerate officials through UEFA and FIFA?
“We have had three successive tournaments where we haven’t had representation among the referees. That needs to change.
“We have a specific plan in place with the PGMOL for elite female referees who could come through and referee the European Championships here in 2021.
Accelerate
“Whether that enables them to accelerate through to the men’s game I don’t know - it would be great if it could.
“Internally, we have talked about elite professional female referees. It’s one for us to look at over the next year.
“In the first instance we will focus on the best and develop them.
“The evolution of that will be professional referees in the Super League.”