Sepp Blatter: Quota system to limit the number of foreign players is needed.

Stew · 7th May 2008, 3:31pm

Sepp Blatter once again uses English football as his whipping boy.

Quote:

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has claimed the dominance of English clubs in the Champions League proves a quota system to limit the number of foreign players is needed.

For the last two seasons, there have been three Premier League sides in the last four of Europe's elite club competition and Blatter fears a monopolisation of football, with the richest clubs buying up the best players from all over the world at the expense of domestic talent.

Blatter is to seek a mandate from the Fifa Congress later this month to begin talks with the European Union and football's authorities over implementing a 'six-plus-five' rule where a maximum of five players in a starting XI can be foreign. Fifa will also look to extend the residency period to five years before a player can represent another country - in some countries the period is currently as short as two years.

"Shall we let the rich become richer and say nothing?" said Blatter. "The big money is coming out of the Champions League - it's the biggest league in the world and practically 80% of the income goes directly to the 32 participating clubs.

"This season, there were four English teams in the last eight, three in the semi-finals and two in the final. The Champions League has been very successful financially but it has also favoured national inequality. That's why, being in charge of football, I have to bring this item to the attention of the Congress.

"This is the sporting situation but let us start with our idea of the six-plus-five rule and then we will see what the difference will be in the future. This rule will be fighting against the monopolies of clubs and leagues. But we are not fighting the problem of money but for the identity of national teams."

Blatter claimed his plan for the six-plus-five rule would not contravene EU labour law because it did not limit the number of foreign players a club could take on - just the number that start a match. Both the EU and Uefa dispute that however...

What's your views on this, then? Ignoring the fact that it will probably never happen thanks to EU law, what would you say to having six home-based players and five foreign players in your team's starting line-up?

Good for the game with more open leagues, or a terrible idea that would ruin the quality of the football?

XMachina · 7th May 2008, 4:00pm

Who is this Sebb Blatter in the thread title? Did he ever attend Reid Kerr?

Draven · 7th May 2008, 4:03pm

See I honestly don't know.

The argument that more home grown players would result in a better national team is compelling, if you look at the Italian, French, Argentine, Brazilian teams etc. However the Premiership would definently be fucked up by it, and suffer as a result. And surely all that will happen is Chelsea/Man Utd/Arsenal/Liverpool will switch from buying all the good foreigners to buying all the good natural players, so it won't help the smaller teams?

Zippy · 7th May 2008, 4:12pm

If I went in to work and they said that 50% of the folk I work with had to be British nationals I'd probably be more than a bit pissed off.

Jaemi · 7th May 2008, 4:41pm

I don't get this at all.
It's not like arsenal (for example) deliberately went out to get a croatian forward (for example) and ignored the perfectly good English one they have on the books.

If English players were better, they'd play more. SImple.

supernothing · 7th May 2008, 4:44pm

And how would subs work? could you only sub on a foreign player for another foreigner?

Stew · 7th May 2008, 5:06pm

I'm trying to remember if he said similar things about the all-Spain and all-Italy finals, but I'm drawing a blank.

The prices for English talent in the EPL is astronomical as it is, hence the amount of foreign players that are brought in rather than paying over the odds for the English players. Surely this would only make that worse?

Jaemi · 7th May 2008, 5:09pm

And you'd have players that would normally not get a game, be in squad making them weaker, no?

I don't fancy it.

Stew · 7th May 2008, 5:21pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaemi

And you'd have players that would normally not get a game, be in squad making them weaker, no?

I don't fancy it.

Boruc

Hinkel Caldwell McManus Naylor

Nakamura Hartley Robson/Brown McGeady

McDonald Samaras

If we bought a Scottish striker we would be able to get away with it nae bother!

**Kenny Everett** · 7th May 2008, 5:26pm

Or like , y'know... dropped Naylor

Jaemi · 7th May 2008, 5:32pm

McGeady's irish.

Stew · 7th May 2008, 5:34pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaemi

McGeady's irish.

He was born in Glasgow, chief.

I'm thinking right now that Man United could perhaps get away with this actually.

Jaemi · 7th May 2008, 5:36pm

Aye, but his "football nationality" is ireland, surely this is what matters?

Draven · 7th May 2008, 5:37pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaemi

Aye, but his "football nationality" is ireland, surely this is what matters?

FIFA may want to change EU law, but I seriously doubt they can legally change the rules on duel passports. McGeady is Scottish/Irish, so no it wouldn't matter.

endless psych · 7th May 2008, 5:38pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaemi

Aye, but his "football nationality" is ireland, surely this is what matters?

Well given he'll more then satisfy residency conditions its a moot point anyway.