The loan rule change made by FIFA that could affect both Bristol City and Bristol Rovers

FIFA have proposed a rule change to limit the amount of loan signings and loan exits a club can make during a whole season.

Regulations will be put in place to cap the number of international loans in and out at any time and will be implemented from July if it gets past a final approval by the FIFA Council.

Players under the age of 21-years-old will be exempt as well as club-trained players, or in better words those who have come through the academy.

The rule changes are more of a warning to top tier clubs who stockpile young talent and loan them to clubs across Europe.

It has created a smaller talent pool for teams to take their players from and as a result top teams are taking control of the market.

Whilst the rule change is more designed for the teams who possess a vast amount of financial resources, the proposals will also impact Bristol’s two clubs.

A domino effect of the rule change is that Premier League clubs may now be inclined to loan players to clubs in the same country as them which could mean a higher calibre of player available to lower league teams.

FIFA also expects respective associations to follow their stance in the next three years so both City and Rovers could be affected as the EFL and Premier League will have to debate this amongst their member clubs.

As it stands in the EFL, there are currently no rules on the amount of loan players you can have but you are only able to name five in a matchday squad.

There is a limit of signing four players from one specific club over the course of a season and no more than two of these players can be over the age of 23.

Currently, Bristol City have no loan players but have made use of loaning their younger players out to Football League and non-league clubs.

Rovers meanwhile have loaned out three players with Connor Taylor, James Connolly and Sion Spence all on their books until the end of the season.

Unlike City who have an Under-23’s side, Rovers got rid of their development team so for their younger players to get first team experience, they have had to send their players out on loan so there is proof.

Two loan successes have been Lucas Tomlinson and Ollie Hulbert, who are both at National League North outfit Gloucester City, managed by Gas legend Lee Mansell.