Losing footie teams to get extra player

FEVER PITCH Footie match PLANS for youth football teams to field extra players to prevent the hurt of getting thrashed have been slammed by parents.

The “power play” lets teams losing by four goals or more bring on another player and even add a 13th if they still ship goals.

But parents have attacked the FA’s scheme.

Brent Pettit said: “We are growing a nation of pampered players that will not know how to compete.”

Mark Broughton added: “Competition means you have winners and losers. Kids need to know how to deal with both outcomes.”

But the FA has defended the nationwide scheme for teams from under-six to under-11, saying it would help maintain the morale of youth sides that get thrashed regularly.