Taylor queries Fifa proposal

PFA chief more in support of Uefa plan

By Lewis Rutledge   Last updated: 30th May 2008

Sepp Blatter angry FIFA president

Blatter: Controversial plan

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'

Taylor on Blatter
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PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor does not believe it will be possible for Fifa to enforce their controversial 'six-plus-five' plan.

Fifa have voted in favour of a rule which would restrict the number of foreign players in any starting XI to a maximum of five, with the rest of the side made up of players eligible for the national team.

Sepp Blatter's proposal has been opposed in many quarters because it contravenes European Union regulations on freedom of movement, and Uefa have put forward slightly different ideas.

Uefa are calling for a 'home-grown' player system to be introduced, meaning that clubs would have to include players who, regardless of age or nationality, have been trained by their club or by another club in the National Association for at least three years between the ages of 15 and 21.

Taylor believes that action needs to be taken to address the issue and to make sure that English youngsters get more of a chance, but he is in support of Uefa's plan rather than Fifa's.

"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," Taylor told Sky Sports News.

"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.

Next generation

"I'm not saying it should be eight but the figure should at least be four to encourage clubs to develop players for the next generation.

"That would put all clubs on a level playing field.

"It may well be that clubs look at bringing in youngsters from abroad , but it would at least focus them on developing players and at the moment they haven't got the patience to be doing that.

"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.

"That would give English opportunities at least the opportunities to succeed."

Not possible

Taylor is not sure what Fifa hope to achieve by voting for the 'six-plus-five' rule and feels they should alter their plans.

He explained: "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 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'."