Premier League will allow clubs to field weakened teams without being fined

EPL: Ian Holloway, Tottenham Hotspur v Blackpool

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The Premier League have decided to get rid of the ruling that prevents clubs from making a number of changes to their teams between matches.

The controversial ruling had seen clubs such as Blackpool and Wolves penalised, despite the former using players they had registered at the beginning of the season as part of their compulsory 25-man squad.

Blackpool were fined £25,000 last season for making 10 changes to their side for a trip to Aston Villa, where they narrowly lost 3-2, prompting Ian Holloway to offer his resignation, although this was refused.

Wolves were given a suspended fine for a similar offence when they lost 3-0 at Old Trafford in December 2009 having rested most of their first-team players in order to have them fresh for a match against Burnley, which they subsequently won.

After announcing the change to the ruling, a Premier League spokesman said: “The clubs voted at the last Premier League Annual General Meeting to modify the rule regarding clubs fielding full strength teams (E.20).

“From 2011/12 onwards the rule will allow any combination of players included in a club’s 25-man squad list to be selected for a Premier League fixture.

“The 25-man squad rules do allow clubs to pick under-21 players beyond those named in their squad list and, with this in mind, it was agreed by the clubs that it was appropriate for the rule to remain in place in order to ensure the integrity of the competition.”