Football age restriction is extended

Children under the age of eight will be banned from playing football in competitive leagues and cups next season, the Football Association has revealed.

Regulations preventing leagues running under-sevens competitions brought in at the start of last season, much to the fury of parents, coaches and young players, have now been extended to include under-eights football as well. The FA says removing the competitive edge curbs over-enthusiastic parents on the touchline.

The new rules first came to light last year after Dudley-based team Wordsley Wasps under-sevens were fined by the FA for taking part in and winning a summer tournament.

And their dream of getting a first taste of competitive football next season have now been dashed when it was announced the ban was to be extended to under-eights football.

The Wasps won 25 out of 26 "friendlies" over the course of this past season and travelled to the Stourbridge & District Youth League presentation night in a Chrysler Bentley on Thursday.

They received no trophies or cups but did get a medal each.

The extension of the ban was announced at the presentation evening.

A parent of one of the Wasps today said: "The boys are all gutted. They know they would have been collecting the trophy this year had the tables been kept.

"They were looking forward to playing in a league next year but now it feels like they are going to have to go through playing pointless friendlies all over again."

Birmingham FA secretary Dave Shelton said the rules meant teams playing under-sevens and under-eights mini-soccer would not be playing for points, with no results collected or published.

"The FA feels this helps remove the win at all cost attitude and provide a better learning environment for youngsters," Mr Shelton said.