30 May 2008Barwick opposed to Blatter's six-plus-five quota plan

Football Leagues/ Association and Governance | Football Referees, Players, Managers and Media

FA chief executive Brian Barwick has voiced his opposition to Fifa president Sepp Blatter's 'six-plus-five' plan, which would limit the foreign players in a team to five.

Barwick, who has admitted responsibility for appointing Steve McLaren to the post of England manager, said: "We still believe in the meritocracy of players in the team on performance and on ability first and foremost."

But many people seem to disagree - Fifa today voted overwhelmingly in favour of exploring their president's quota idea (150 supported further investigation, with only five opposing).

The EU has already insisted that it will show a red card to any attempt to introduce a quota, claiming that it is discriminatory and illegally deters freedom of movement in the labour market.

Blatter will meet EU officials early in June and said: "If there is a law, a law can be amended."

Scottish FA chief executive Gordon Smith believes that the England team's chances of success would be boosted by supporting Blatter's proposal.

He was quoted by BBC News as saying: "England has got the most non-nationals in the leagues and England has been the country that has done well at club level this season, but not at an international level."

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