Soccer Shorts: Uefa president Michel Platini has attacked the foreign scouting policy of English clubs by insisting young players must be protected against the lure of big-money moves abroad.
Platini's comments come after suggestions by Fifa president Sepp Blatter that domestic teams should be issued with a quota of homegrown players. Table-toppers Arsenal beat Reading 3-1 on Monday with an all-foreign starting XI - a policy which has evoked much criticism.
However, Platini cited Arsenal and Manchester United for their youth team policies that do not prohibit poaching the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Gerard Pique and Giuseppe Rossi from their hometown clubs before they sign professional terms.
The Frenchman said: "I am totally against this philosophy and I am a firm believer that we need to take care of the identity of the club."
He added: "Don't get me wrong, I like Ferguson and Arsene Wenger is a great friend of mine, but I don't like the system that scours other countries for the best young talent to bring back to their team."
Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard yesterday admitted he feared for the future of the England side unless more homegrown talent was allowed to develop and flourish in the Premier League.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow's international friendly in Austria, he said: "There is a concern that this talent will stop coming through if foreigners do take over our league. "We are proud to say we have one of the best leagues in the world. But it is pointless having the best league in the world if our national team is going to suffer in the long run.
"As an England player, we want top players involved in the squad and I am sure the quotas will help."
Long break for Carvalho
Chelsea are still awaiting confirmation that Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho has broken small bones in his back and faces two months out.
Carvalho (29), was injured after falling awkwardly in the first half of the 1-1 draw with Everton on Sunday and was forced to retire.
The defender returned to Portugal and was examined by the national team's medical staff.
Portuguese doctor Henrique Jones insisted Carvalho had fractured small bones in his back and would be out for eight weeks.
But Chelsea were still waiting for the results of further examinations on the defender.
Reid blames FAI
Andy Reid claims Football Association of Ireland chiefs bowed to media and fan pressure when it came to the sacking of Steve Staunton last month.
Charlton midfielder Reid said: "I don't believe they should have done it. I believe he should have been given more time.
"They said at the start of his reign they would give him four years, that it would be a four-year plan. To be cut out after two years is not the right thing to do in my opinion, but I'm not the one who makes those decisions."
Asked whether the FAI had bowed to media and fans' pressure, Reid replied: "Yes. But I wasn't really surprised.
"Everyone could feel a decision would be made either way - that they were going to come out and back him, or they were going to let him go - and unfortunately they let him go."
Reid accepts the players have to hold their hands up and accept a share of the responsibility because several results and performances were not good enough.
"What it boils down to is results weren't good enough, and that's down to the players who went out on the pitch," said Reid.
"It's not that the results weren't good enough for Steve, the FAI or the fans - they weren't good enough for us as players either."
Reid feels the new manager has to be thick-skinned. "We probably need an experienced manager with a strong character and a strong personality who won't be intimidated by the media, the fans, the FAI and outside interferences," he said. "I'd like it to be an Irishman, because we are a very proud nation, but the important thing is we get the right man for the job."
Wigan target Bruce
Birmingham manager Steve Bruce has emerged as the leading target to replace Wigan boss Chris Hutchings after an approach by the Lancashire club to their midlands counterparts.
Wigan have approached City for permission to speak to Bruce. Birmingham's initial reaction was to refuse Wigan permission to speak to the former Manchester United captain, who has been in charge at St Andrews for six years.
But it is understood City's co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan may alter their stance when they have held further discussions.
Bruce is in a state of limbo after prospective new owner Carson Yeung declined to sanction the new contract he had agreed with Gold and Sullivan during the summer.
Bruce held what were described as "positive talks" with Yeung a fortnight ago after the home 3-2 win against Wigan.
But he admitted before the derby against Aston Villa he had no idea what his transfer budget would be in January when he strives to strengthen the squad during their battle to stay in the top flight.
