Asia, Spanish footballers back Blatter's quota plan

The head of the Asian Football Confederation is one of those who is backing the FIFA plan for a quota.

While FIFA president Sepp Blatter has had problems convincing other entities of the merit of the 6+5 system, Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed Bin Hammam loved the idea.

"AFC doesn't have a big problem when it comes to 6+5 like Europe but we have to be prepared for the future," read a statement from Bin Hammam. "In Asia, clubs at present limit themselves to registering three foreign players but as clubs seek to establish themselves they might explore the possibility of signing up more foreigners.

"This can have a negative impact on young local talent."

FIFA's congress voted 155-5 for the plan, which would have six players for a club on the pitch who are eligible for the national team.

The plan also was well received by Spanish captain Iker Casillas, Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta and Valencia defender Raul Albiol, who said it was a critical rule for the future of Spanish football.

"The rule seems a good idea, a very good idea, to me, especially for home-grown players," Casillas said recently at a news conference. "It isn't xenophobic or racist it will merely allow us to look after our own."

Their views are opposite of the English Premier League, UEFA and various European lawmakers who have come out against the plan as contravening free-movement labour laws. Most of their support has gone to the more tepid UEFA home-grown rule, which provides for a few players who must have spent a few formative years in the club's system.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.