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maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 25 MARCH 2015 20 Sport SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Michel Platini backs Greg Dyke's home grown player rule changes Michel Platini has backed Football Association chairman Greg Dyke's plan to increase the minimum number of home-grown players in club squads from eight to 12 DYKE is facing opposition to his plans from the Premier League but UEFA president Platini said the European body would work to help him. It comes as Dyke said it was "de- pressing" to read Rio Ferdinand 's newspaper column claiming that managers such as Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho may not be giving young English players a chance. Platini, speaking after the UEFA Congress in Vienna, said: "This is a position we defend. We're not only talking about England, we're talking all of Europe. Mr Dyke's struggle with the FA is something we share and we agree with him. "With the new leader of the Eu- ropean Commission it is impor- tant we establish close relations to see how we can protect home- grown, grass-roots young play- ers in the different countries. We share the same perspective. We will work hand in hand to defend an idea that we think is the right one. "There is free f low of workers but there are some things that doesn't work well and we need to address it." UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino admitted that its similar rule of eight home-grown players in European squads was not work- ing as well as it should and called Dyke's initiative "fantastic". He added: "We are at eight out of 25 and we see it is not really as great as it should be so what- ever move in favour of increasing home-grown players is something we can only support. Congratula- tions to England." Dyke's proposals are set to be discussed at a Premier League chairmen's meeting on Thursday as well as the FA board. They al- so include changing the rules so that 'home-grown' means having trained in England for three years before the age of 18 rather than 21. The FA chairman said: "I thought Rio Ferdinand 's column was in some ways quite depress- ing. It virtually said Mourinho is virtually saying he is not going to play the kids any way. Why have an academy then? "It's not fair on the kids. It was al- ways tough for kids to get through but it seems unfair now." Asked if he had looked at how the FA could force the new rules through despite opposition, he replied: "We have but that's not the way we want to go. We have looked at it yes." Dyke said all the proposals were open for discussion. He added: "I think it's more about the clubs than the leader- ship if you want my honest opin- ion. It's the unfairness of a sys- tem that is massively improved because of the EPPP (Elite Player Performance Plan) which was in- troduced by the Premier League led by Richard Scudamore, he has done a great job. "The trouble is that it is only any good if the kids get through the system - if they can't get through the system why bother? "We are open to discussions on all of it. This is a set of ideas which we think will work." Michel Platini Diego Simeone signs new Atletico Madrid deal, ends Man City speculation THE 44-year-old Argentinian has been linked with several Premier League clubs - most notably being touted as a potential replacement for Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City in recent weeks - but he has now ended speculation over his immedi- ate future. Reigning Spanish champions Atleti, who finished runners-up in last year's Champions League, are currently fourth in La Liga nine points off leaders Barcelona, but Simeone is convinced the club can get back to the top. "I choose to be here because I am convinced that the club will continue to grow," he told the Spanish press. The decision to stay until 2020 is a big statement from Simeone, who has been drawing admiring glances for his achievements in the Span- ish capital on a relatively meagre budget. However, shortly after he an- nounced his new deal, Manchester City sources categorically denied to Press Association Sport that the club made a bid for Simeone's services or that they were interested. Since taking the reins at Atleti in December 2011 Simeone has made a habit of gatecrashing the monop- oly of Barcelona and Real Madrid, scooping a La Liga crown, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. Simeone's impact has also been felt in Europe, with his side winning the Europa League in 2012 and then em- barrassing Chelsea 4-1 in the Super Cup later that year. "Ahead of us we can look forward to a new stadium, there is a great deal of excitement," he added. "The club keeps growing. I've made a decision to stay where I am and decisions are sometimes difficult to make in life. "Fortunately I've been able to make this decision as I see a club that is moving forward, I see eagerness to grow and people willing to collabo- rate. We all love Atletico Madrid, and we all want to grow together." Atleti hailed the announcement with a banner of Simeone dominat- ing their website and the hashtag '#Simeone2020' celebrating his re- newal. Club president Enrique Cerezo echoed those sentiments, saying: "Nobody embodies the values of our club more than Simeone. "Passion, effort, nobility, work, sol- idarity, courage, heart ... he showed in his years of football, where he gave himself (in both) body and soul in the defence of Atletico colours." Diego Simeone Diego Simeone has signed a new five-year deal at Atletico Madrid, the Primera Division side have announced