22 Apr 2009Blatter applauds politician quota backing

Football Referees, Players, Managers and Media | Other Football News

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has expressed his satisfaction after a group of UK politicians backed plans to force all clubs to name a certain number of homegrown players in their starting line-ups.

Blatter has long been trying to propose a system that all teams should have to pick a starting 11 with no more than five foreigners in the side.

And this move was recently supported by the 150-strong All-Party Parliamentary Football Group, which encouraged The Football Association and its respective English leagues to adopt the attitude.

Blatter said: "These recommendations are based on the need to protect national teams, promote youth development, safeguard and encourage clubs investing in training domestic talent, restore the competitiveness of competitions and reach an harmonious development of football worldwide."

He added that he is all for the development being brought in on a gradual basis to allow clubs time to become accustomed with the move.

In last night's Premier League clash between Liverpool and Arsenal only two of the players to start the match were English.

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