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Join the Sky Sports debate on Fifa's bid to limit the number of foreign players in each team.
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Comments (99)
Howard Watson says...
It would change nothing, you would still have the 'big four' buying the best english players, meaning the top four would stay the same and therefore dominating the english premier league. Joke fifa.
Posted 14:50 30th May 2008
Jonathan Curtis (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
The idea is there but not the right approach. There is no way this proposal will be allowed, imagine all the court battles if it did! Its already been mentioned and rightly so that its the wages that causes the problems. Cap them and then everyone will be on a even playing field. As for the home grown players, we as fans need to get on our clubs case and demand it. A fact that english players are priced out in the market limits situations also, as a spurs fan I'm happy to see us sign the young British talent - but each time its a rip off... next its Bostock 16 years old and they want £5M...!! One good thing if they did introduce 6+5 rule - Arsenal could only enter 5 a-side tournaments.
Posted 14:40 30th May 2008
Matt Gray (Portsmouth fan) says...
Total rubbish. Football is a great game because it flows and it is exciting! Why make it mechanical? It is ill-conceived, I can see its merit but certainly grass-roots football should be encouraged but not at the expense of the Leagues becoming dull, monotonous and frankly, undesirable! Keep football pure and simple!
Posted 14:37 30th May 2008
Jonno Jonno (West Ham United fan) says...
My proposal would be to ban European teams from buying any foreign national player until they are 18 or 21years old, thus any youth squad consists entirely of the home nation. Foreign players over 21 become expensive to buy so clubs have a choice, spend the money on expensive ready made foreigners once they are 21years old or invest in youth players of the home nation. Result is that more home nation players come through, if they are rubbish then clubs can still buy 11 foreign players if they wish, my thoughts are that more money and effort would be dedicated to home grown talent.
Posted 14:36 30th May 2008
Peter Fell (Blackburn Rovers fan) says...
I can see both sides to this debate. It would be good to see more English footballers playing in the premiership in order to help the national side. But as a football point of view it is good to see the best players playing - no matter their nationality. If this rule is imposed than the transfer price of English footballers has just increased. Everybody will now be keeping hold of home grown players. Could be an interesting transfer mayhem during this close season.
Posted 14:20 30th May 2008
Jimmy Hosang (Newcastle United fan) says...
Ill conceived and poorly thought out. The fact that they are even discussing this proposal shows that FIFA are ill-equipped with the knowledge to implement such changes. It's against the EU law. Everyone knows this. Blatter, if he had any sense about him, would have taken this back to the drawing board and insisted that all teams had to have a minimum of 5 under 21's in each squad. These players would have to have been homegrown or something like that.etc.
Posted 12:12 30th May 2008
Kevin Murphy (West Ham United fan) says...
I cannot believe I am saying this but for once I agree with Blatter. The premiership is a fantastic league but to the detriment of the home nations. This is because teams would rather buy ready made foreign players instead of giving the younsgters a chance. Yes transfers fees are higher for english players but how do teams like west ham produce top home grown players year after year? It because they give youth a chance and have one the top youth schemes in the country. Players such as cantona,ginola, zola,henry etc are brilliant and we should welcome the top foreign players. But there are so many average foreigners in the league who are no better than home grown players. For example Eboue, Senderos, Voronin, Paolo Ferreira, Johnathan Spector. This list goes on. Teams would rather buy an a ready made foreign player then take a chance on a promising younsgter. Blatters plan will never get off the ground because of EU law but I think sport should be exempt for this rule. The premiership is an english league and should have a significant representation from england and/or the home nations. Clubs have a resposbility to ensure local talent gets a chance. (This will never happen becuase money has ruined the game)
Posted 12:09 30th May 2008
Emma Wilkins (Manchester United fan) says...
What a ridiculous idea. What happens if all your home grown talent gets injured? So one's got a broken leg, another has a hamstring problem...etc then what happens? You can only field 9 players because you can't have too many foreigners in the side. The problem with the state of the national side isn't really caused by this. It's the fact that England coaches are too scared to drop the big names to let people in to the side on merit (Capello is almost there, just needs to drop Lampard for good) Then when we have a starting line up of the best 11 English players who meet regularly to train together we can have a decent National side. If the 6+5 goes ahead. I for one will seriously consider not renewing my season ticket as I don't particularly want to watch sub-standard premiership football.
Posted 12:09 30th May 2008
Craig Greenfield (Sunderland fan) says...
In my opinion the only way to make it fair is to cap players wages.There should be a limit on how much they get paid as it is far too much
Posted 12:08 30th May 2008
Ben Lewis says...
As a young goalkeeper aspiring to play professional football next season, I can only say that the new proposals by Blatter are the right ones. We need to see more development of home grown players and this proposal promotes this. It will also, in the long run benefit the English National Team.
Posted 12:07 30th May 2008
Terry Howells says...
I am absolutely amazed at Sepp Blatters stance on the foreign players ruling, could it be that he may be under pressure from other FA's, other FA's know that our premier league is the best league in the world and as such attracts the best foreign players, therefore they can see the English teams ruling the Champions League for years to come, nothing was ever said when the Italian and Spanish teams were dominant in the prominent European competition and their respective leagues were regarded as the best, as such, there was never any such rumblings then, it certainly smacks of a bit of a conspiracy against our premier league teams.
Posted 12:01 30th May 2008
Derek Nevin says...
Mr Blatter does not have a clue what he is doing. The first time ever we have an all english final,and now wants to end the dominance of the top 4. First i would like to say how many teams dominanate in germany.Only one team wins there every year. Also i would like to add that italian teams and spanish teams have been dominating europe for years, but thats ok. now that england is dominating we have to implement new rules to stop the rich getting richer. Mr blatter is a joke as far as im concerned. We invented football, and now we get told what we must do by some old german bloke sitting in his office. English football will be ruined if he has his way. sack him!!!! put platini in charge.not.
Posted 11:56 30th May 2008
Craig Fieldhouse (Arsenal fan) says...
Has Sepp Blatter ever come up with a good idea that will actually improve the game? Why is this moron President of FIFA?
Posted 11:43 30th May 2008
Jimbo Jones (Newcastle United fan) says...
Not every fan of a Premiership team is English, it was designed to allow the clubs to play football and entertain the fans that they have. It was not however, designed to make the English national side a powerhouse of world football. If the players were good enough they would have the chance to play at any top team. If you want an all Enlgish side go to watch lower leagues or pub teams, because that's what Blatter is going to make the PL look like if he has his way. Sepp Blatter is killing football one step at a time and someone needs to stop him before he gets too far. Everything he does, he claims is for the good of the game in general but he is in charge of FIFA. Who in turn are the FA for internationals. Leave it to the people who know what they're doing such as the respective leagues around the world and if they want limits, then allow them limits. If not then they shouldn't be forced into it. A good example is the top 4. If these rules were already in place maybe Liverpool wouldn't have had Torres, Man Utd might never have gotten Ronaldo, Arsenal might never have gotten Fabregas or even Henry and the Chelsea team would be lacking Drogba or Essien. I'm a Newcastle fan personally but I enjoy football as a whole. I like to be entertained and I'm sure fans of other teams would be wondering who they might never have had. With the exception of Chelsea, would any of the top 4 still have their managers if they played mediocre teams as Blatter wants. I have no problem watching the best players from all around the world playing in the same league as my team. Blatters plan wont just punish league football, but also international football for the smaller teams. Those who have several internationals playing in big leagues for the same teams. Sunderland/Ireland is an example. Next thing you'll know is Blatter saying 5 players have to be playing in their country before they can play in Internationals. He MUST GO
Posted 11:39 30th May 2008
Tommy Hilfiger says...
Sepp Blater should leave his role as head of football now. Stupid idea after stupid idea comes out of this mans mouth! Why should we lower the class and talent of the best league in the world because of this fool! If there isn't the homegrown talent in the teams across europe then so be it! That individual country should then work at their youth systems, scouts and coaches to bring through better players, not punish clubs by making them play half decent players just because they are from that country. The big 4 situation in this country started many years ago, all clubs start off the same, its just down to how they are run and managed. (Except for chelsea who feel that they need to buy everything that moves to win. How are you now John Terry?) But it is those clubs that have been run well, gained success over the years and with that has come the reward of money, with which the big clubs have used to improve and buy the best players and continue to grow and get even bigger. Its the same with any company or club, they all start from nothing and have to build themselves up through their success! So this whole idea is ludacris and should be scrapped now, before we lose the best league in the world that entertains us week in week out!
Posted 11:27 30th May 2008
Mark Henderson says...
I'm sure these points have already been made, but I'll reiterate them anyway: it is impossible for this rule to be implemented as it contradicts EU law, and it would lower the quality of football (which seems to be improve at break-neck speed every year), thus having a negative impact on investment, interest and gate receipts. It could even be to the detriment of England (who have the highest percentage of foreign players in the elite league), as the skill level required to become a first team regular at a club would drop. I'm sure all those who hate Arsenal will be salivating at the prospect but I urge you to look at the line ups for the England U16s and U17s. There are 6 Arsenal players in the U16s (compared to 2 Chelsea, 2 Man Utd and 0 Liverpool) and 6 in the U17s (compared to 5 Chelsea, 2 Man Utd and 0 Liverpool) - they are the most prevelant supplier of young talent in each team. Anyway, I don't support the idea of a quota; if anything, it is insulting to local players who need to be mollycoddled. In the words of Sir Trevor Brooking: 'I'm sure Arsene Wenger would love a team of Englishmen, but his priority is a successful side, regardless of nationality...the harsh fact is that many clubs feel our teenage hopefuls are a long way behind the technical skills of their European counterparts'
Posted 09:51 30th May 2008
Martin Parris (Arsenal fan) says...
I find this idea completely mad, I understand that the international team is getting dire at the moment, but you cant say that the reason for this is 'not enough' home talent, we have the talent (some best fit into being the best in world and def in Europe in their roles) their problem is that they cant seem to play together, nothing to do with how good they are. They just need managed right with the right tactics! If Arsenal want to fill their team with foreign players who has to right to stop them? Their simply buying the best they can in order to play good football and to push for silverware, like every other team! Surely the problem lies in the development for young English talent, if their not good enough why should we pay to see them play worse football? I wouldnt want to go to a watch a game where Ive, in a way, been forced to watch players I dont want to watch. People are saying it will bring the top four clubs down a level and give others a chance, but why? They started out like everyone else, they developed their team like everyone else but managed it better, simple! Its unfair to discipline someone for being more successful, they got there fair and square, its just jealously against the top clubs. Would there be 120 good English players to go round anyway, I dont think so! Can you imagine the rubbish that people will see for their money? It will be same story, top clubs will have the best English players and the lower teams will have to play 6 players who should be in the Championship, Div 1 or 2. The premier League is, I believe the best league in the world, everyone wants to play here, why change it? If your team isnt good enough, it has more to do with your managers/scouts/coaches than any money situations, look at Wenger he buys young talent for hardly anything and they turn out to be superstars worth 10million+ ... Darren Bent for tottenham 16million wasnt it? Id like to know what hes worth now!
Posted 09:49 30th May 2008
Terry Jeffery says...
This idea will do nothing good for the premier league it will however destroy the world opinion that we have one of the best and hardest leagues in the world and it is because we are bringing in the best and brightest players from around the world if Fifa put this stupid idea into action the premier league will suffer badly and we will struggle to see many top clubs do well in europe as a result. sure we have some great english talent at the moment in Rooney,Terry,Gerrard and many others but foreign players improve the league and the likes of Tevez,Fabregas,Torres and others who dont get regular starts will find it much harder to play here if this rule comes into effect. Fifa should really take a step back and think this through or better yet put it where it belongs in the bin.
Posted 09:48 30th May 2008
Chris Madden says...
I think the dominance of the big four is down to money rather than player nationality. Like a lot of people have said, if the rules change the top four will just buy all the good english players and the dominance will remain. I would like to see the 6+5 rule incorporated as it would boost english playes. I think too many managers buy players just because they're foreign. You can't tell me there isn't a better english player than Amde Faye!? I don't think Uefa's 'homegrown' idea will work, because the big clubs will just buy all the promising young players in order to have them for 3 years in case they turn out to be good players in the future. It's already happening with teams fighting to give contracts to 14, 15 and 16 year olds.
Posted 09:47 30th May 2008
Blessing Adeleye says...
This is mainly because England are not doing well, but that should not affect the Premier League.This is also a class of racism saying that foreiners arent as ggood as English players,but the fact of the matter is that foreighners are better than English players and they have 2 face that if that rule is implied It could be the end of the premier league being the most dominat club in Europe, people from all around the world should have the right 2 play in wich league they wantand besides theres not enough good English players to go around
Posted 09:45 30th May 2008