FIFA to push for quotas despite opposition

By Mark Ledsom

ZURICH (Reuters) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter vowed on Monday to press ahead with controversial plans to restrict the number of foreign players in club football despite continued opposition from the EU Commission.

Blatter, whose '6+5' rule would limit teams to just five foreigner players in their starting line-ups, said he had been "satisfied" by an informal meeting in Biarritz that brought together top sports officials and European sports ministers.

Ministers signed a joint declaration to "encourage further discussion on initiatives put forward by international federations to encourage the teams... to develop the presence of athletes capable of qualifying for national teams, in compliance with EU law."

In a statement released by FIFA on Monday Blatter said that "the unanimous support of the ministers and their desire for dialogue point towards a bright future for the Olympic and sporting movement."

He added that he was "equally delighted by the unanimous agreement voiced by the 27 European sports ministers on the need for dialogue and discussion of the "6+5" rule while respecting its compatibility with EU law."

LESS POSITIVE

The EU Commission, which oversees EU law, has been less positive however in its interpretation of '6+5' and its compatibility with EU labour laws governing the free movement of workers within the bloc.

In a written statement sent to Reuters earlier on Monday, Commissioners Jan Figel and Vladimir Spidla said they sympathised with FIFA's concerns but "differ about the means to achieve it."  Continued...