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 'depressing ' 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 . UEFA president Michel Platini agrees with Gerg Dyke 's plans to increase number of homegrown players . The FA chairman wants to increase the minimum number of home-grown players from eight to 12 . While there is a slight increase in the number of English players in the Premier League this year — up from 32 % last year to 35 % — that is largely down to Burnley being promoted . If they were to be relegated and replaced by Watford — second in the Championship — the proportion would fall to 31 % . However , only 22 % of the starters in the current top four teams are qualified to play for England , compared to 28 % last year . In 2014 , just 23 English players appeared in the Champions League group stage , compared with 78 Spaniards , 55 Germans and 51 Brazilians . This season the three English clubs that reached the knockout stages of the Champions League started only 10 English players , compared to 12 French and nine Spanish in those three sides . In the last two weeks only five English players started in the second legs of the knockout stage . In 2010 England Under 17s won the European Championship , beating Spain in the final . Of that 18-man match-day squad , only four have gone on to play more than 20 top-flight games , while double that from the Spanish squad have done so in La Liga . Of the 12 clubs who have played in each of the last five Premier League seasons , the average number of home-grown players per squad has gone from 11.4 to 9.4 . Only 62 % of current home-grown players are qualified to play for England . 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 European Commission it is important we establish close relations to see how we can protect home-grown , grass-roots young players 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 flow of workers but there are some things that does n'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 working 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 whatever move in favour of increasing home-grown players is something we can only support . Congratulations 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 also 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 depressing . It virtually said Mourinho is virtually saying he is not going to play the kids anyway . Why have an academy then ? 'It 's not fair on the kids . It was always 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 . ' Former England defender Rio Ferdinand claimed that youngsters were not being given a chance at Chelsea . Chelsea ' s Ruben Loftus-Cheek is highly rated but has found chances limited under Jose Mourinho . Dyke said all the proposals were open for discussion . He added : ' I think it 's more about the clubs than the leadership if you want my honest opinion . It 's the unfairness of a system that is massively improved because of the EPPP ( Elite Player Performance Plan ) which was introduced 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 ca n'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 . '
FA chairman proposed raising the minimum number of home-grown players from eight to 12 at UEFA clubs . Greg Dyke 's plans also include 'home-grown ' players having to train in England for three years before the age of 18 rather than 21 . Premier League president Michel Platini is in favour of the rule changes .