26 Feb 2009Fifa to hold talks with EU after new player quota report

Football Leagues/ Association and Governance

Fifa is set to hold talks with the European Commission over plans to limit the number of foreign players clubs are allowed to select on match days, it was revealed today (February 26th).

Sepp Blatter, president of football's world governing body, is in favour of a controversial 'six plus five' rule which would see clubs limited to five non-nationals in their starting line-ups.

The European Union (EU) has previously suggested that the system would contravene employment laws, but a new report by the Institute for European Affairs (INEA) has dismissed that suggestion.

Commenting on the report, which was commissioned by Fifa, INEA boss Jurgen Gramke said: "There is no conflict with European law. We took no instructions from Fifa.

"INEA accepted this commission on condition that our requirements of complete independence were met."

A Fifa spokesman revealed that the report, which claims that the rule "does not impinge on the core area of the right to freedom of movement", will form the basis of new talks with the EU.

Blatter's proposals were approved by 155 of Fifa's member nations last year.

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