Blatter wants limit on foreigners

Blatter wants a maximum of only five foreigners in club sides

Sepp Blatter has called for a restriction on the number of foreign players in domestic football.

The Fifa president said the present system was "detrimental to football" and wants six home-grown players in each starting team at domestic level.

"We have clubs where there are no more national players playing," he said.

"For the identity of fans, they want their own nationals and educationally, the talent will go somewhere else, there will be missed players."

European Union law would prevent any widespread restrictions being imposed in member countries, but Blatter believes there is a willingness to overcome this.

"The EU is not against this," he added to BBC Radio Five Live. "It has legislation that will not permit but would not say it is against it. We will discuss this with them.

"The EU has 25 countries and in Europe there are 52 national associations. Fifa has 205 around the world - 25 shouldn't make law for the other 205 countries."

However, Birmingham City chairman and co-owner David Gold questioned the viability of any potential changes.

"This would unquestionably strengthen English football, but I have serious doubts as to whether this would work," Gold told BBC Radio Five Live.

"I fear this is tinkering with a well-established system that is working extremely well.

"I'm also fearful this will drive up the cost of English players and I can see them all being focused in the very best clubs in the land and not spread through the league.

"I'm concerned at what effect it would have on the Premier League. It's the greatest league in the world and tinkering with it is a great danger."