ITALIAN FA VOTES TO REMOVE FOREIGN QUOTA
The decision by the Federation's Federal Court is certainly a brave one, as one of the arguments against this move has been that it would make the national side of any country that removed quotas weak, as clubs opted for cheaper foreign stars.
Italy have become the world's first league association to recommend this freedom to pick players from around the world, having previously had a restriction of three non-EU players on the pitch at any one time.
However, Italy's quota of five non-EU players in any one team's squad was one of the more lenient in Europe.
Clubs with the stature of Lazio, Milan, Inter Milan and Udinese still face censure for fielding players with false documents, and although the docking of points and heavy fines had been expected, after this decision it is now unlikely severe punishment will be forthwith.
The ruling is sure to lead to debate in all other European leagues and Uefa are likely to have to make a decision as to the quota of foreigners allowed in their competitions from next season.
The Federal Court have also asked Italy's Olympic Committee to analyse the situation of both non-EU players and the effect they will have on the Italian national side.
Speaking to Bloomberg, sports analyst, Giovanni Palazzi said: "If the league docked points and then the Italian justice found the clubs innocent, the federation would be sued
"I don't think teams will be given any harsh punishments."
33 players had been identified as using fake passports, including the likes of Lazio's Juan Veron and Alvaro Recoba of Inter Milan and although these players face trial, again their situation has been changed by the ruling.
France, Spain and England have faced similar problems and it remains to be seen how the respective FA's deal with the problem, although it is based on purely Italian law, not European.
The Italian players union hit-back at the verdict and said they were working with the clubs to ensure a 'majority' of players used were home-bred.
Reggiana's Ipke Prince Ekong will go down in history as being the player to cause the ruling, after being relegated to the third division, he challenged the laws at the time that stated non-EU players could not play in that league.
After the courts came down in Ekong's favour, the quota limits in all divisions were ruled illegal.
Naturally the ruling has provoked a response from the foreign stars in Serie A, Roma's Hidetoshi Nakata said: "It is fair that they have changed this law. I do not want to say more as I wish to know more about it: it is really important for me."
Argentinian team-mate Walter Samuel said: "First of all football is fun, then is a job. It is not possible to forbid a foreign player work."
Juventus coach Carlo Ancelotti said: "In my opinion the principle is fair but laws should be changed at the end of the season."
Milan manager Cesare Maldini said: "In my opinion is fair that sport follow others international laws about work.
"It was absurd that a Turk was considered from outside Europe while a Croat was not."
