Blatter Pressing Ahead With Player Quotas

FIFA president Sepp Blatter is expected to win the support of the world governing body’s congress for his plans to implement a ‘six plus five’ quota on foreign players at domestic football clubs.

Blatter’s long-held plan would limit the number of foreign players in each team to five and is determined to get the rule in place by 2012.

However, in order to implement the ruling, Blatter will need to support of both UEFA, the European football governing body, and the European Union both of whom are known to oppose the idea.

The EU has stated that any such move would contravene European employment law which UEFA is keen to protect the views of the teams participating in the Champions League who would not want to be dictated to regarding their team selections.

However, while in Sydney for Fifa’s annual conference this week, Blatter suggested rules restricting the number of foreign players could still start in the 2010/11 season, with a minimum of four home-grown players being required in each team.

He added he expects it to grow to six, with a maximum of five foreigners, by 2012/13 – and claims the plan has the backing of key European delegates.

Blatter is convinced the proposal will be accepted when it is voted on by FIFA delegates later this week.
He said: ‘The executive committee unanimously supported the proposed resolution concerning the six-plus-five rule. We’ve had confirmation by all the confederations, including Europe, that everybody favours the objectives of the six-plus-five.

‘I’m convinced, now the confederations are in favour of such a proposed solution, it is a possibility. But we should do it not with confrontation but in discussions to try and find a solution.

‘We would start, step by step, with four plus seven in 2010 and then 2011 five (plus six), then 2012 six (plus five).’