Blatter calls for limit on Europe soccer's power

GENEVA (AP) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter renewed his campaign Wednesday to stop European soccer clubs from hoarding most of the world's best players.

"It cannot be that only one continent will be the focus of all football," Blatter said in a conference call with reporters.

He said European clubs were "drying out" soccer in Africa by signing the best young players and preventing professional leagues from developing.

Blatter was outlining his plans for a "six plus five" rule, which would force clubs by 2012 to field at least six homegrown players in their starting lineups and limit the number of foreigners to five.

The FIFA president believes the rule will reverse the trend among some of Europe's elite clubs - including Arsenal, Chelsea and Inter Milan - to field teams entirely made up of foreign players.

Blatter has railed against the practice in the past, but no international rules are currently in place to prevent teams from ignoring players in their own countries.

"If there is a FIFA regulation that there shall be this six-plus-five system, then players in Africa and Asia and especially South America will stay home," Blatter said. "It will be good for the development of football."

He said soccer federations outside Europe supported his plan "because the other continents are the suppliers of all the players in Europe."

"We are now stimulating new leagues where players can earn their living decently," he said. "At the same time we are fighting, let us say, the drying out of local leagues in Africa."

Blatter said African soccer federations were in favor of his plan when it was discussed at a January meeting in Ghana, even though it could mean that some African players would lose their positions with top clubs.

Blatter also believes the rule can be good for soccer in Europe. He wants it to help restore the traditional identity of clubs and national leagues, and strengthen national teams by offering more opportunities to homegrown players.

Blatter argued that the top European leagues suffer from being dominated by the richest clubs, who buy the best foreign players and then increase their wealth in the lucrative Champions League.

"Shall we let the rich become richer and just stay there and say nothing?" he said.


While calling the Champions League "the best in the world", he said 80 per cent of the income goes directly to the 32 clubs taking part.

"This season, there were four English teams in the last eight, three in the semifinals and two in the final," he said. "In the last years the Champions League was very successful in finances but it has also favored national inequality. That's why, being in charge of football, I have to bring this item to the attention of the FIFA Congress."

But Blatter is not supported by European soccer's governing body UEFA and European Union lawmakers, who say it would be illegal to prevent the free movement of players.

UEFA favors a rule on "locally trained" players which would set a quota of players, of any nationality, on the roster who have been with the club for at least three years between the ages of 15 and 21.

"I appeal here also to Europe, not only to European football but the European Union, to look also for this solidarity (with world soccer)," Blatter said. "It is not enough to put money in development clubs all around the world but you should also maintain in the sporting spirit, the spirit of fair play."

The rule will be discussed at the FIFA Congress from May 29-30 in Sydney, Australia.

Blatter will ask the 208 national federations for a mandate to approach the EU for support, and has arranged to meet UEFA President Michel Platini before July 1 when France takes up the presidency of the EU Council.

 

i dont get why this rule would break laws... the players would still be able to move anywhere and any club could sign an unlimited number of foreign players, but just not play them all in the starting line up.

 

exactly, would make it alot better though

 

The quality of leagues in South America and Africa would improve, like Blatter says. But the quality here would suffer. There are 20 PL teams. All would need to have at least 10 English players in their squad to ensure fielding 6 every week (injuries/suspensions/lack of form), probably more than 10. Call it 12. Thats 240 English players who need to be good enough to play in the PL and in Europe for some. That would mean players like Howard, Kozluk and Foster, good English players plying their trade in the 2nd tier, would be taken by the PL teams to act as the fillers in their squad. Knock on effect down the leagues.

 

thats the only consolation, the conference and 2 lower leagues

are a lot better now with better quality players, who, if there wernt as many foreign players in the upper leagues would, themselves be playing up there

 

I too think it would work out better - the national team would benefit too.

Blatter is a reight knob, but this is probably his best idea yet. Hope it does get implemented as i'm sick of top English sides without Englishmen in the team. Man Utd are probably the best with Ferdinand, Brown, Scholes, Rooney, Neville (when fit), Carrick and Hargreaves all regulars.

Not sure how it would work for other Brit nationalities though like Giggs and Fletcher.

 

that's a key point

England or possibly all the British football associations should apply for special dispensation where they all count as home grown players, there have always been Scots in the English league for example. However, this is unlikely to happen as Blatter is somewhat anti-English. Although this is just about his only good idea so far, he is justifying it with the 'bad thing' of English european cup dominance. Overall though even if Giggs and co became foreign players in the rule you are allowed 5 so I would still like this idea.