Blatter's quotas plan blasted by EU parliament

Sepp Blatter's dream of limiting the number of international players on the field was dealt a severe setback when the European parliament overwhelmingly voted against his 6-plus-five plan.

The FIFA president had wanted six home-grown players on the field to go with a maximum of five foreign players. A 518-49 vote against crushed the plan.

"The parliament calls on the member states and sports associations not to introduce new rules that create direct discrimination based on nationality, such as Fifa's 6+5," the resolution said. "It calls on the Commission to recognise the legality of measures favouring the promotion of players who have come through training schemes, such as a minimum number of locally trained players, irrespective of their nationality."

MEPs cited that they believed the rule would infringe on the free movement of people through the EU and violate the European Treaty.

Dutch MEP Toine Manders said: “In the jungle of sport we need clear legal guidelines. If you ask if these gentleman's agreements will hold, you are very wrong. We are talking about big business, powerful clubs who will go to court if necessary. Mr Blatter will only open up another pandora's box like Bosman.”

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