As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
Fifa have voted in favour of the 'six-plus-five' rule which would place restrictions on foreign players.
The president of football's world governing body, Sepp Blatter, hopes to see the initiative implemented by the 2012/13 season.
The ruling would limit the number of overseas players any one team can field in their starting XI to just five.
Fifa have grown increasingly concerned by the number of foreign stars infiltrating Europe's top leagues, with the English Premier League standing out as the most obvious example.
Despite fears from the European Union that the introduction of the rule would contravene freedom of movement regulations, Blatter insists that Fifa would proceed "within the limits of the law".
i just checked our Reserve team , we do have a lot of english/british players , so we would be ok , weather they make the grade is another thing , if this rule went ahead ..
The EU (should) block the move, but I seem to remember Wenger saying during the season that in 3-5 years time we'll have a few of the young lads like Gibbs and Landsbury in the squad, so fingers crossed they develop as he hopes......just in case!
I understand why people within the game would want to see something like this in place and I can agree that it does have some merit but, and it is a massive but (like the wifes mother ) it breaks one of the fundamental rules of the EU and cannot be sanctioned. In order to do so the entire European constitution would need to be re written and that folks ain't gonna happen.
wont work because the eu wont let it and if it did then even players who are here 4 years or came thru the ranks would be ok,, so rvp,toure,gael,bendtner,cesc etc would be ok
FIFA's Six-Plus-Five Quota Proposal is Given a Red Card
The quota proposal which has been ratified by FIFA's Congress is not going to materialise.
Contrary to his beliefs, the European Union, as well as the Professional Footballers Association Chairman Gordon Taylor, have indicated the plans will not go ahead.
John McDonald—spokesman for the European Commissioner for Sport—told BBC that he does not expect Blatter's ambitions to succeed.
"It is a non-starter as far as we are concerned," he said.
"Interestingly, the wording that Mr Blatter mentioned this morning at his press conference was that FIFA's resolution is to explore within the limits of the law the six-plus-five rule."
"And they can explore as much as they like, but, unfortunately, a six-plus-five rule is against Community legislation."
Gordon Taylor has also said that he cannot understand what Blatter is trying to accomplish with these quotas, considering that UEFA already has a "homegrown quota" system wherein teams participating in the Champions League had to register a minimum number of players who had been nurtured in their academies.
He told Sky Sports News, "We are very much aware of the decreasing number of players qualified to play for England and it is one of the reasons why we have the embarrassment of not having England at Euro 2008."
"But, in Europe, you cannot discriminate on the grounds of nationality, so we have to really look at the UEFA proposal, and say that not only should we have eight players in as squad of 25 that have been developed in a country or club irrespective of nationality, but to have them on the field of play."
"We would be very much in favour of the UEFA criteria being developed further, because the European Commission has indicated they would go ahead with that, because focus is on youth development irrespective of nationality."
He went on to say, "The fact is that club football is so cosmopolitan that you can't really roll back time. They have to look realistically at the law and that is why I think they must look at the UEFA criteria."
"I think it is posturing and tilting at windmills. I think it is just to reinforce the point, but I am not sure at what they are aiming for."
"It's like standing up and saying we are in favour of removing all income tax. Everybody would say 'yes, that's great, but, by the way, that's not possible." quipped Taylor.
Good last line, that. The fact is that Blatter is trying yet again to seek some attention and grab the headlines. He's only ended up embarrassing himself because every sane human being who is well versed with European Law is saying that whatever he's trying is going to be of no use.
So, sorry Sepp - it's a red card for you on this issue!
Last edited by Zimgooner on Fri May 30, 2008 2:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
May happen though that some sort of compromise happens and each squad and each youth academy has to have a few home grown players, but vcannot see how it can be workable for a starting line up.
I heard ealier Blatter has said he will take this through the courts if he has to to make the EU accept it. It would be a disaster if this happened, the bloke is a twat
) it breaks one of the fundamental rules of the EU and cannot be sanctioned. In order to do so the entire European constitution would need to be re written and that folks ain't gonna happen.
I think it's a perfect time to get a "no confidence" petition going with like minded football fans from all over the UK and Europe.
challenging the next best players in the Premiership and Europe.