The ‘home-grown’ issue is one that has long plagued the Premier League, causing particular furore around the time that England are knocked out of major championships.

The usual scaremongering follows, with tales of good English players not given their chance in the big leagues and cheap foreign imports replacing the existing talent that could be used in a club’s academy.

Going hand in hand with these notions is the idea (usually purported by serial crackpot Sepp Blatter) that teams should be forced to field a set number of home-grown players in order to boost national identity and preserve the cultural heritage of a country’s league. Not only is this unlawful and unfeasible, but a counter-intuitive notion that will set European football back years should it ever be implemented.

'The perception that foreigners in football clubs hamper the progress of English talent is another that needs serious reconsideration'


Since the now-famous Bosman ruling of 1995, players who are European nationals are allowed the same freedom of movement throughout Europe as any other worker. The European Court of Justice deemed it unlawful to restrict the number of foreign European nationals in any football club, giving way to the culture of fielding almost entirely foreign sides that is now prevalent in some Premier League clubs.

To overrule this precedent would set football apart from the rest of society, making one rule for sportsmen and another for everyone else. Blatter would find it extremely difficult to force through a policy restricting Europeans in any UEFA-governed club.

Furthermore, the perception that foreigners in football clubs hamper the progress of English talent is another that needs serious reconsideration. As has always been the case, the best inevitably rise to the surface.

Players such as Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Theo Walcott have all been blooded through sides already rife with foreign talent. Their careers have not been blocked in any way. Foreign talent might stop the more mediocre English footballer ply their trade in the top flight, but world-class international players will always find their way to the biggest stage.

The newest generation, including youngsters such as Freddie Sears, Michael Kightly and David Wheater, have also managed to fight their way to the top of football. Rather than restricting them, foreign talent has helped the existing English players flourish. It is well documented that Theo Walcott wanted to move to Arsenal partially due to the lessons that could be taught to him by French great Thierry Henry. Who is to say that the same lessons are not being taught by foreigners to Englishmen up and down the country?

Jean-Marc Bosman did not know how much of a shockwave he would send through European football when he brought his case to court in the mid 90s. However, to reverse the judgements passed in his name would be ludicrous. Foreign players have brought richness and diversity to a growing Premier League, and their talent should continue to be enjoyed by football audiences every Saturday.