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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)
Jon O'connor says...
Absolutely nuts!! All this will do is drive transfer fees through the roof and lower the standards of the premier league. The limited number of truly world class english players will be snapped up by the big 4 for ridiculous money. I think a cap should be placed on wages and transfer fees instead and then all clubs would have some chance of competing for the best players. You wouldn't tell the big corporations that they cannot employ foreign workers so why tell soccer clubs
Posted 09:44 30th May 2008
Reinhard Attard says...
This is typical of Sepp Blatter to meddle in affairs concerning the premier league. First of all if there are quality young english players don't you think that they will be in the squad? It doesn't matter if the percentage of english palyers is low compared to other leagues because that percentage consists of high quality players... the problem is not that. The problem is the mentality of the english players that playing in the champions league final etc is more important than playing for your country. If they change this mentality and show their full commitment towards playing for their country then Im sure sooner rather than later england can move forward
Posted 09:37 30th May 2008
Terry Morrow (Manchester United fan) says...
Why does everyone think that this will effect the top clubs only!! How many teams in the lower leagues have players from different countries on their books? This will effect those teams more as the top teams will start buying the best english players if they cant buy foriegners. The lower league teams wont be able to buy foreigners either so will be left with the scraps. At least they wont be going into administration with the money they'll be getting for their young talent!!! Will NorthernIrish, Scottish & Welsh players be classed as foreigners? Would Cardiff have got to the English FA Cup final with six welsh players in their 1st XI.
Posted 09:28 30th May 2008
T G (Arsenal fan) says...
What a joke! this ruling should be illegal by EU rules! looks like Sepp Blatter is trying to make a job for himself by bringing in this directive! anyone who thinks thinks will level the playing field or improve the standard of English players is kidding themselves and it will in fact have the opposite affect!
Posted 09:22 30th May 2008
Peter Holgate says...
Sepp Blatter just hates the English league and always has done. It's about time these old fogeys stepped down and we brought fresh young blood in. How on earth can people think the England team will improve just because we play more brits? Don't you think some of the young english lads learn from the skilful players from abroad. Just coz we play more english players, doesn't mean they will get any better!! Everyone whos for it, were gonna go back to German and Italian clubs ruling Europe, just as Sepp"Hitler" Blatter wants. BLATTER OUT
Posted 09:21 30th May 2008
John Bolton (Manchester United fan) says...
While I think the development of "homegrown"players is essential to our quest for the WC again.I can't help feeling this is all sour grapes with Mr.Blather.Here he is wittering on about English clubs 'dominating' the UEFA CL.Didn't hear old Septic screaming his disapproval when the Italians had an all Italy final in 2003,not to mention the Valencia/Madrid affair.This rule is a stab at gifting the initiative back to the old guard.Utd would have won the CL on a number of occasions in the mid 90's if this type of ruling was not in place. Lord help Blabber if we do win the WC.He'll probably demand another rule change then!
Posted 09:16 30th May 2008
Max Aus (Manchester United fan) says...
This really had to happen, it was inevitable specialy when you look at the premier league. Some clubs(don't want to name names) field teams entirely consisting of foreigners. That limits the opportunities the young english players get to play at top clubs, that includes training with world class players and in world class facilities. This isn't just going to affect the EPL, it's going to affect all the top leagues in europe. At least it's not going to be as bad as the 3 forigner rule from yesteryear. That was hurting the english clubs more then the continentals, hence the absence of major european honours in the earrly to mid nineties.
Posted 08:58 30th May 2008
Gurinderpal Singh (Arsenal fan) says...
This is a ridiculous idea! (and I¿m not just saying that because I¿m an Arsenal fan) All it will to is perpetuate the big 4 dominance of the premier league as all of the good British stars will all be bought by the biggest teams. You won't ever see a David Bentley at Blackburn, Gareth Barry at Villa or Micah Richards at City if this rule is brought in as the big clubs will sign these players. This will really affect the smaller teams than it will the bigger teams because they won't be able to buy the English stars, they will have to settle for players who are second rate and the few foreign players they can get in won't want to play for then because all of the good English players play for the bigger teams so you won't then get a Roque Santa Cruz at Blackburn, Berbatov at Spurs or Elano at City. Simple fact is, if the player is good enough he should play regardless of nationality. As for the national team, the cream will always rise to the top and the English players will always be produced. Our first 11 is as good as anyone elses. The fact we haven't won anything isn't the fault of the premier league, it is the fault of those at the F.A for getting Sven and Mclaren as managers. Rant over.
Posted 08:57 30th May 2008
Andy Manville (liverpool supporter) says...
Whatever next, Sepp Blatter has been banging on about this for for what seems an age. And the reason behind it is the Premier League is now the best in the world and all the top players want to play here. I agree its all about balance but lets face who wouldn't want to top players like "Torres" playing in there team?? You will always have a top 4 or 5 as the best English players will be snapped up by the bigger clubs so it would be a no win situation for the smaller clubs... and finally, we are now part of the EU so Mr Blatter case closed.
Posted 08:57 30th May 2008
Chris Johnston says...
It doesn't matter what fifa say,this will never get in,because it breaks eu law on freedom of movement,and will be seen as a restraint of trade.
Posted 08:55 30th May 2008
Ray Milner says...
If chelsea buy twenty of the best English players + 10 of the best overseas players. Then play 5 & 6 Where will kevin be aiming for then. Its nonsense, if your good enough to get in a side great, if not, then get a life. Why should fans and clubs suffer. Why should managers be made to choose those they do not want in their side when they are not considered good enough. Freedom for all workers to ply their trade should mean that. Football First Please.
Posted 08:54 30th May 2008
Dave Kilduff (Manchester United fan) says...
This will never work, principally because it is illegal. Without EU support, which this will never get, it won't get implimented. I agree that something needs to be done urgently, but this will set football back twenty years. The already expensive English players value will skyrocket. The big four will have enough money to buy up al the good English players, leaving the likes of West Ham, Blackburn and Pompy with the second string players, and no way of breaking the stranglehold. The UEFA system is FAR better, and much more likely to be implimentable. Just ask yourselves this question. The Premiership is the best league in the world. Are you all willing to let it go to battling with the German league for 3rd, with Spain and Italy back dominating Europe?
Posted 08:50 30th May 2008
Daniel Rose says...
This concept is madness, English players are expensive enough as it is, if this comes in to force then only Chelsea & Man U will be able to afford even half decent English players. Most Enlgish clubs are resonably good at playing English players with exception of Arsenal, but they'll change soon enough once they realise Wenger lost the plot about 3 years ago and get shot of him. FIFA should keep thier nose out of English/European business, even Platini admitted that it would never work in Europe. The simple fact is that English players aren't good enough and haven't been for a long time. Why should poor English players get an easy ride just because the law says they have to be allowed to play, perhaps if they tried a bit harder in the first place it wouldn;t be an issue. If this was bought in you can forget English teams ever doing well in Europe again. And don't be deluded into thinking this would help England win the World Cup... it's never going to happen we're just not good enough and it's not helped by the English Press wanting England to fail as it gives them more to write about. The simple fact is it ain't broke so don't try to fix it.
Posted 08:50 30th May 2008
Phil Dale says...
Although it looks to be a good idea to bring more homegrown talent into the Premier League, this could go further to increase the already ridiculous prices that clubs pay for English players. There are only so many good English players, so the most wealthy clubs (the top 4) will end up with all of the good ones!
Posted 08:47 30th May 2008
Steve Milne says...
Just remember this day in 5 years time when the quality of the premiership has diminished. It will be full of players who would normally play in the Championship. If it ain't broke...............
Posted 08:39 30th May 2008
Lee Wilson (Liverpool fan) says...
If this does come in it wont help the English national side one little bit- all it will do is sound the death knell for the Premier League as "the best league in the world". The influx of foreign players in the main have raised the levels of the english players-if the player is good enough then it shouldnt matter where he is from. The last time there was a limit on foreign players, the England national team was one of the worst in memory- remember Carlton Palmer and Andy Sinton in an England shirt? We are still seeing the effects of that last ban with the inflated transfer fees on English players. FIFA's only concern is international football. That is why they have come up with this. UEFA's proposals are much better if you want to try and impose limits and quotas in my opinion.
Posted 08:38 30th May 2008
Steve Elliott (Liverpool fan) says...
As a Liverpool fan we have seen plenty of home grown players come through the academy. Owen/Carragher/Fowler/Gerrard and McManaman to name but a few. Its a shame to see a team of players home grown who have won the fa youth cup 2 years out of the last 3 not get a chance in the first team because if the amount of foreign players, Granted, not complaining at having Torres or Mascherano who are world class but nobody seems to be given the chance. Youth policies all over England are seeing Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and United snap up all the young talent from abroad from Italy/Spain/ France and Holland, why, not so sure, maybe the scouts are foreign....along with the managers. England can still bring through and develop young stars, looking at Rooney and Walcott bursting on the scene at 16 years old and Micah Richards also developing very well. Limiting the amount of foreign players is a fantastic idea and England will reap the rewards for many years to come, not sure what Arsenal would do, relegation maybe!!!!
Posted 08:36 30th May 2008
Andy Legg (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
Still not enough, should have taken the bull by the horns and made it 3 or 4 only from next season ........... Bye Bye Arsenal
Posted 08:27 30th May 2008
James Jelfs says...
About time too. How on earth we can expect our home-grown players to develop when all our top teams are inundated with foreigners is beyond me. Plus I think it will go some way towards sorting out the imbalance between the Big Four and the rest.
Posted 08:26 30th May 2008