Clubs consider quota system – Discussions begin over limit on homegrown players

[Neil Young]

A Neil Young album with a dog on the cover. What more could anyone want?

[Darkon]

There is one big fall group in this approach IMO, not from an english club perspective, but from the perspective of young players.

This basically means there will be a huge fight for talent, and prices and pressure on youngsters will grow considerably. It is not a pressure young people should have to face...

The other downside to it is that it will start to be a modern version of human trade, where the big clubs start paying underdeveloped countries for their young ones to go play at their club, and most of them ending up without a professional career.

There was a documentary on this whole issue in belgium, where most youngsters from africa and south amarica ends up on the street instead.

[Darkon]

I would much rather that a ceiling was set for the amount clubs are allowed to spend on wages and sign on fees etc. That would level the playing field much more, because even the best players would have to limit their demands.

Being very very naiv, it could if set correct even lead to lower ticket prices! - but my guess would be increased profits for owners instead!

[dww]

That would the champions league rules, not the suggestion being made.

Ah, I see.

it will almost certainly be the basis of any PL ruling though. If for no other reason than it is known to be legal within the confines of EU law.

I still don't understand why they didn't put restrictions of some form on the two added bench places when they were introduced.

[Pippo]

It could be a positive thing for young Liverpudlian footballers though, we need to get the academy right and bring back the identity to our football team.

Carragher is 31, there is only Gerrard behind him, Darby looks workmanlike, Spearing looks too small - were are the next local hero's coming from?

If it gives one or two local youngsters more of a chance then I'm all for it.

[Mattshark]

It could be a positive thing for young Liverpudlian footballers though, we need to get the academy right and bring back the identity to our football team.

Carragher is 31, there is only Gerrard behind him, Darby looks workmanlike, Spearing looks too small - were are the next local hero's coming from?

If it gives one or two local youngsters more of a chance then I'm all for it.

Where a player is from is irrelevant. All that is important is how they play.
How many of the first Liverpool team to play where from Liverpool? How many from the 86 double side?
If they youngsters are good enough they'll play. If they are not, they won't.

[MrsB]

Fifa plans talks on player quotas

BBC SPORT, 2009/02/26 13:33:14 GMT

Fifa is planning new talks with the European Commission to discuss plans to limit the number of foreign players.

Football's world governing body wants to stop clubs fielding more than five non-nationals in a starting XI, a move the EU says would be illegal.

But a report by the Institute for European Affairs (INEA), commissioned by Fifa, says the plans do not fall foul of EU regulations.

"There is no conflict with European law," said INEA boss Jurgen Gramke.

He also insisted that although the report was commissioned by Fifa, it was completely independent.

"We took no instructions from Fifa," added Professor Gramke. "INEA accepted this commission on condition that our requirements of complete independence were met."

Fifa's "6+5" rule was approved by 155 of the organisation's member nations last year.

But the European Commission believes a quota on foreign players would be incompatible with EU law as it amounts to discrimination at work and a restriction on the free movement of workers.

However, the report added: "The key aim of the 6+5 rule in the view of the experts is the creation and assurance of sporting competition.

"The 6+5 rule does not impinge on the core area of the right to freedom of movement.

"The rule is merely a rule of the game declared in the general interest of sport in order to improve the sporting balance between clubs and associations."

A Fifa spokesman said the report would form the basis of a new round of talks with the EU.