Skip to main content
BBC SPORT / FOOTBALL
Graphics Version | BBC News Home
Sport Homepage | Football | World Cup 2010 | Formula 1 | Olympics | Vancouver 2010 | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorbikes | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Football Contents:  World Cup 2010 | My Club | Gossip | Premier League | Championship | League One | League Two | Non League | FA Cup | League Cup | Scottish Premier | Scottish League | Scottish Cups | Welsh | Irish | Europe | African Women | Football Focus | Match of the Day | Final Score | World Football | Skills | Laws & Equipment | Get Involved | Your Game

Monday, 26 November 2007, 10:48 GMT

Blatter wants EU to allow quotas

Sepp Blatter Fifa president Sepp Blatter is intent on persuading European lawmakers to enable limits to be imposed on overseas players appearing for club sides.

Blatter says his "six plus five" plan - six homegrown players per team - can succeed if Fifa convinces the European Union to create an exceptional ruling.

"European law cannot rule the world as far as football is concerned," he said.

Current EU law prevents quotas being imposed, because it considers them to be "direct discrimination".

Blatter's proposal is to be debated at the Fifa congress in Sydney next May.

"A lot of people around the world are saying, yes please do it, even the owners of the clubs are saying this"
Sepp Blatter
Fifa president


But for it to be implemented the new EU treaty, currently being formulated by member states, would have to include an exceptional ruling for sport.

Yet a spokesman for the European Commission - the EU's executive branch - told BBC Sport earlier this month that the freedom of movement legislation will not be altered and that no exceptions are to be granted.

Blatter remains undeterred and before Sunday's draw for the preliminary round of the 2010 World Cup finals, said Fifa must "convince the purists in the application of European law".

He continued: "Can FIFA impose a quota system worldwide for the better development of national team players?

"The answer is definitely yes, if there is the will and determination of the FIFA Congress.

"But football has the opportunity now to deal with this problem. A lot of people around the world are saying, yes please do it, even the owners of the clubs are saying this."

606: DEBATE
Give your reaction to Blatter's determination to impose quotas

Blatter claimed the EU is to adopt a number of processes to "stop the overwhelming presence of non-national players in club leagues" in its new Reform Treaty.

The debate about imposing limits on overseas players has intensified recently, with particular focus on the English Premier League after the national team's 3-2 loss to Croatia which eliminated them from Euro 2008.

Blatter has also warned of the threat of naturalised Brazilian 'invaders' playing for other countries.

Some countries only require players to be resident for two years before handing them passports, such as Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva, who plays for Croatia.

"If we don't stop this farce, if we don't take care about the invaders from Brazil towards Europe, Asia and Africa then, in the 2014 or the 2018 World Cup, out of the 32 teams you will have 16 full of Brazilian players," he said.

"This is a real, real danger. Two years is definitely not enough. In Brazil there are 60 million football players; every third person kicks the ball."



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:

Blatter downplays crime fears (25 Nov 07 |  Africa Cup of Nations )
EU to block Blatter's quota plan (06 Nov 07 |  Football )
Ferguson supports Fifa quota plan (06 Nov 07 |  Man Utd )
Blatter to step up Euro quota bid (05 Oct 07 |  Football Focus )
Blatter secures third Fifa term (31 May 07 |  Football )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Fifa
Football on the BBC
Your say - 606
European Union
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC SPORT: 

Sport Homepage | Football | World Cup 2010 | Formula 1 | Olympics | Vancouver 2010 | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorbikes | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Football Contents:  World Cup 2010 | My Club | Gossip | Premier League | Championship | League One | League Two | Non League | FA Cup | League Cup | Scottish Premier | Scottish League | Scottish Cups | Welsh | Irish | Europe | African Women | Football Focus | Match of the Day | Final Score | World Football | Skills | Laws & Equipment | Get Involved | Your Game

^ Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | Feedback | Help | ©