The question of whether English football is too violent has been a frequent fixture in the sporting agenda this season thanks to a number of dangerous challenges and long-term injuries. Bobby Zamora and Hatem ben Arfa have had their seasons halted by broken legs while Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has voiced concern that footballers are not given enough protection in England. Earlier this year, an amateur footballer was jailed for six months for breaking a man's leg during with a tackle during a Sunday league match, but police intervention in professional matches is rare and prosecutions hard to win. Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Taylor rejects Wenger's claims and insists the physicality of English football is not ruining the domestic game. He does admit, however, that he may have to remind his members their conduct on the pitch does not absolve them from criminal prosecution. "The English game is not too physical," said Taylor. "One of the characteristics of the English game is that it has always been a physical contact game. The flair and technical skill it also contains makes it the most watched league in the world. "Some tackles will be reckless and will cause a problem but it is for the referee to judge. "What we can do for our members is to remind them that the pitch is not an oasis from law and order. "They have a duty of care to fellow professionals. "We don't want to see careers ending early because we see some 50 players a year end their careers prematurely due to injury." Taylor, who was speaking at the inaugural Professional Players' Federation conference in London on Monday, also has a differing point of view than the Arsenal boss over the Premier League's new squad rules. Premier League teams unanimously agreed before the start of the season to approve a move which limited squads to 25 players, eight of whom must be 'home-grown'. The decision, which is designed to improve the development of youngsters into the England team, was slammed by Wenger as "ridiculous" and "artificial". Taylor was instrumental in bringing the reforms into the game and rejected the Frenchman's criticism. Taylor explained: "As much as I've got respect for him, you need all clubs on a level playing field to give an opportunity for youngsters to come through the programme. "One of the biggest blemishes on the game is the poor success rate of the 600 plus kids that come into the game at 16 and then 500 of them are out of the game by the time they are 21. "That's not good enough and we have to make sure that the next generation has every chance irrespective of nationality and I know for certain, as I'm sure Arsene does, that if you are a mature footballer and you can't get into a squad of 25 then it's time to move on." Taylor is keen to take the reforms even further by implementing a rule which would see at least two "home-grown" players guaranteed a start in top flight teams. "I think that even though the home-grown rule is a step in the right direction I won't be happy until two or three of that bunch of home-grown talent starts the game," Taylor added. "Only then it will start to impact on the national team. I have many examples of quality youngsters who clubs couldn't afford to risk and only just got through to the top by sheer determination. "Joe Hart was had to go out on loan to Birmingham to succeed, James Milner was told at Newcastle that he wouldn't play and he carried on, Adam Johnson wasn't always getting in the Middlesbrough team. "There are many youngsters who aren't getting a chance and they are getting dispirited."
