Dan Dare
05-30-2008, 03:10 PM
Good news.
FIFA is backing Sepp Blatters proposal for a limitation of foreign players on a team, something which has been long overdue for years, particularly in the English Premier league where less than 40% of the players are now eligible to play for the national team. It would put an end to obsecenities like Arsenal repsenting England in the Chanpions without a single English player in the side.
EUFA still seems to be holding out though on the grounds that the ‘6+5’ proposal is contrary to EU law.
Fifa Congress backs president Sepp Blatter over '6+5' foreign quota proposal
Daily Telegraph 30/05/2008
Fifa president Sepp Blatter will press ahead with his controversial new proposal to limit the number of foreign players to five in any starting line-up, despite fresh warnings that it would be incompatible with European law.
Blatter's '6+5' idea could theoretically come into force for the 2012/13 season after the world governing body's annual congress today voted in favour of further exploring the idea.
The English FA were among those who supported that move, but Blatter can expect opposition from the European Union.
"The six-plus-five rule of Fifa is simply a rule that is based on grounds of nationality so that is incompatible with community law," said EU spokesman John MacDonald.
"If they were to implement the six-plus-five rule in Europe what would happen is any professional football player who feels aggrieved by the rule would be able to take the football club concerned to court and he would probably win the case."
The EU are, however, more positive about a proposal from Uefa that would set a quota for players trained in a particular country, but not necessarily of that nationality.
"In a study we did of the home-grown players' rule, we're of the opinion - on the basis of current evidence - that in fact that rule neatly side-steps the problem of direct discrimination, which is against community law, and can be considered to be compatible with community law," said MacDonald.
"Any indirect discrimination is justified by the aims, which are to bring balance to the game through encouraging the development of young football talent."
An FA spokesman said: "Bringing through more high-quality English players in the future is an absolute priority for the FA. One of our reservations has always been that the six-plus-five rule appears to contravene European law and we welcome further exploration of its legality.
"However, this is a question of balance and we believe first and foremost in a meritocracy system, where players appear in club teams based on performance and ability. This is at the core of our coach and player development strategy over the coming years."
Blatter is confident of getting Europe on board and will push his proposal forward when he meets with chairman of the European parliament Hans-Gert Poettering in Brussels next week.
…
Link… (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/05/30/ufnfifa430.xml)
FIFA is backing Sepp Blatters proposal for a limitation of foreign players on a team, something which has been long overdue for years, particularly in the English Premier league where less than 40% of the players are now eligible to play for the national team. It would put an end to obsecenities like Arsenal repsenting England in the Chanpions without a single English player in the side.
EUFA still seems to be holding out though on the grounds that the ‘6+5’ proposal is contrary to EU law.
Fifa Congress backs president Sepp Blatter over '6+5' foreign quota proposal
Daily Telegraph 30/05/2008
Fifa president Sepp Blatter will press ahead with his controversial new proposal to limit the number of foreign players to five in any starting line-up, despite fresh warnings that it would be incompatible with European law.
Blatter's '6+5' idea could theoretically come into force for the 2012/13 season after the world governing body's annual congress today voted in favour of further exploring the idea.
The English FA were among those who supported that move, but Blatter can expect opposition from the European Union.
"The six-plus-five rule of Fifa is simply a rule that is based on grounds of nationality so that is incompatible with community law," said EU spokesman John MacDonald.
"If they were to implement the six-plus-five rule in Europe what would happen is any professional football player who feels aggrieved by the rule would be able to take the football club concerned to court and he would probably win the case."
The EU are, however, more positive about a proposal from Uefa that would set a quota for players trained in a particular country, but not necessarily of that nationality.
"In a study we did of the home-grown players' rule, we're of the opinion - on the basis of current evidence - that in fact that rule neatly side-steps the problem of direct discrimination, which is against community law, and can be considered to be compatible with community law," said MacDonald.
"Any indirect discrimination is justified by the aims, which are to bring balance to the game through encouraging the development of young football talent."
An FA spokesman said: "Bringing through more high-quality English players in the future is an absolute priority for the FA. One of our reservations has always been that the six-plus-five rule appears to contravene European law and we welcome further exploration of its legality.
"However, this is a question of balance and we believe first and foremost in a meritocracy system, where players appear in club teams based on performance and ability. This is at the core of our coach and player development strategy over the coming years."
Blatter is confident of getting Europe on board and will push his proposal forward when he meets with chairman of the European parliament Hans-Gert Poettering in Brussels next week.
…
Link… (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/05/30/ufnfifa430.xml)