Image:Rudi Skacel: Believes the SPL should rethink their ruling of including at least three Under-21 players in a matchday squad
Hearts' Rudi Skacel has labelled the SPL's youth policy as 'silly' and believes the rules need to be reconsidered.
Midfielder criticises SPL's policy of fielding Under-21 players
Hearts midfielder Rudi Skacel has labelled the SPL's youth policy as 'silly' and believes the rules need to be reconsidered.
The league instructs clubs to play at least three players under the age of 21-years-old in their match-day squads to enhance youth development.
Hearts had three members of their squad in the required age bracket and beat Dunfermline in the SPL on Saturday.
But Scott Robinson (19), Arvydas Novikovas (20) and Gordon Smith (20) were all restricted to the bench and were unused substitutes.
Former Czech Republic international Skacel is one of the more experienced members of the squad at 32-years-old and feels that the rule does not help anyone.
Silly rule
He said: "I think it's a silly rule that you need to have three youngsters in the squad. You don't see these rules in other first divisions.
"There are second and third divisions for young boys to build up and when they are good enough, all managers will be happy to put them in the first team.
"Fifteen years ago, if I was in the first team because I was under 21, this wouldn't encourage me. I don't need to be good enough; I just have to be under 21."
