Blatter holds talks on '6+5' ahead of EURO 2008 matches

After receiving a mandate from the FIFA Congress in Sydney on 29 and 30 May, FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter has been holding talks ahead of several UEFA EURO 2008 matches with various European ministers and officials in order to explore all possible means to ensure the '6+5' objectives can be carried out within the framework of European law.

Among others, the FIFA President met with European Affairs Minister Frans Timmermans ahead of the Netherlands-Italy match in Berne on 9 June, and in the presence of KNVB officials. He also held talks with Spanish Sports Minister Jaime Lissavetzky and Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, who is also the President of the Russian Football Union, before the Spain-Russia match in Innsbruck on 10 June.

These meetings come only days after the FIFA President met the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering, in Brussels on 5 June for talks on the same subject and in which all parties agreed that factual discussions on the subject of '6+5' would be continued at a later date. This was followed by a meeting with Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme as well as with the President of the Belgian football association, also in Brussels.

When it recently convened in Sydney, the FIFA Congress voted in favour of a resolution for the '6+5' with a significant majority, and requested that the FIFA President as well as other FIFA representatives and bodies explore the legal possibilities of these objectives.

The '6+5' states that each football club must field at least six players eligible to play for the national team of the country of the club. FIFA firmly believes that '6+5' will, among others, help maintain the harmony and balance between national team football and club football, as well as safeguard the education and training of young players. FIFA is also of the opinion that '6+5' will help maintain the competitiveness of club competitions.

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