Football chiefs have been criticised over a controversial move to impose a three points for a win ruling in the children's game which critics say promotes a win at all costs mentality.

Now the SELKENT League (South East London and Kent Youth Football League), one of the largest youth football leagues in the country with more than 10,000 youngsters playing in around 800 teams, has returned its coveted FA Charter Standard status in protest.

The FA introduced wide-sweeping changes in the youth game in 2013 to try and improve the game following disappointing results by the England national side.

Changes include five-a-side football for seven and eight year olds, nine-a-side for 11 and 12 year olds and plans to phase out competitive football until youngster reach the U13 age group.

But one rule imposed nationwide by the FA which almost went unnoticed was the decision to bring grassroots football in line with the professional game and award three points for a win in league matches. 

While some youth football leagues have already opted to award three points for a victory, others still award two points arguing it creates better competition and makes a draw seem more valuable.

Leagues such as the SELKENT say awarding two points for a win stops weaker teams giving up halfway through a season because they feel they are too far behind mid-table sides.

They also feel it stops sides running away with the league title, giving teams in second and third a hope of catching their rivals.

The league says it's intention has always been to offer children a season of fun, excitement and development.

They say to force this league to replace two points with three points will change the whole infrastructure of a child friendly league.

Now the SELKENT League (South East London and Kent Youth Football League) - the largest youth league in London - has taken the rare step of returning its Charter Standard Award back to the Football Association in protest.

A league representative handed the award back to the London County FA head office in Fulham earlier this month with a letter explaining its decision.

A copy of the letter was also sent to Greg Dyke, chairman of the FA and other officials. 

It has also sent a copy of the letter to the FA's Charter Standard award sponsors McDonalds.

League secretary Sally Dolan addressed the 80 clubs in the league at a meeting why the FA Charter Standard status had been handed back.

She said: “It is not something we do lightly.

“We were extremely proud and honoured to be awarded the FA Charter Standard Award. We were the first league in London to be given the status.

“As a league, we worked incredibly hard for it, so to hand it back saddens us.

“But we believe we are doing this for the right reasons.”

The Football Association confirmed the three points for a win rule was in the standard code of rules for Youth Football but refused to comment any further.

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