Topic: Premier League Changes Rules on 'Weakened' Teams

[Kicking Pigeons]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14166038.stm

Thank God. It had to be one of the most ridiculous rules ever invented in football. I was even on Wolves' side when they got in trouble for it.

[B_H_Baggie]

With the 25-man squad rules that were introduced this should have been the case from the beginning.

[WBASPE77]

Im glad the rule has been changed, felt sorry for Mick when Wolves got fined.

[KingKoren]

Im glad the rule has been changed, felt sorry for Mick when Wolves got fined.

I didn't and they weren't fined.

[WBASPE77]

Sorry it was Mick who got fined didnt he.

[B_H_Baggie]

It was a £25,000 suspended fine, even that was a joke.

[KingKoren]

Sorry it was Mick who got fined didnt he.

Wolves received a suspended fine. Which means they would only have to pay if the breached the rules again. Hardly likely that will happen now considering the new rules implemented.

[WSBaggie]

Probably right that this rule has gone now. When Holloway was using the excuse of 'I was only using my 25 man squad' he was bang on but everyone knew he had weakened his team on purpose. Getting rid of this rule eliminates the grey areas at least.

[Baggie Artist]

Making ten changes against a big side is against the spirit of the game and not fair on the rest of the league. Unfortunately there's no way of being able to legislate for it though, so this was their only option.

I didn't think anyone would do again after Wolves because of the fans reaction to it and because the big sides are beatable, but Holloway obviously wanted to prove a point when he was on his moral crusade mission last year.

[Political Cake]

Glad this hasn't been overlooked, could easily have been forgotten.

[Axel Foley]

Can't wait until someone fields a weakened side with players outside of teh 25 man squad. The FA will be re-writing everything I expect 

[Kicking Pigeons]

Can't wait until someone fields a weakened side with players outside of teh 25 man squad. The FA will be re-writing everything I expect 

Well it says in the article that teams can still get punished for fielding a disproportionate number of youth players, which is fair enough I suppose.

My view is that if you have a 25 man squad then it's the manager's right to utilise those players in whichever way he sees fit. End of.

[Axel Foley]

Disproportionate? So Arsenal/Chelsea/Man Utd could play 6 players in their 25 Man Squad against for arguments sake Swansea/Norwich in a game sandwiched between two important Champions League fixture, supplemented by 5 Youth players. Naming 4 registered players on the bench, alongside 3 who aren't.

I pray that someone does the above. 

[LiamTheBaggie]

There's a video on Youtube of Ian Holloway talking about this and the 25 man squad and how you can be fined for using a different set of 11. Very good interview, I just can't happen to find it.