Sepp Blatter has reiterated his determination to implement the 'six plus five' rule in the Premier League.
Fifa president keen to limit foreigners
Fifa president Sepp Blatter has reiterated his determination to implement the 'six plus five' rule in the Premier League.
Blatter is keen to limit the number of foreign players in England's top flight, forcing sides to start every match with at least six England-qualified players.
He believes the system would help break up the dominance of the 'big four', and is sure that it would do much to enhance the quality of international football.
"In England, you have just four teams, maybe five, who are there fighting for the title and qualification for European competitions," he said in the
Daily Mirror.
Not enough
"All the other clubs are simply playing not to get relegated. They are just sparring partners. That's not enough.
"It is not only England. The situation is the same in France, Spain and Germany. A young player entering a big club has no more motivation that they can move through the ranks to play in the first team, because the manager will just go and buy players on the free market.
"The clubs do not try to educate players.
"You have to remember the origins of the game was local, the team was from a local area.
"Then it became regional. But now we have to maintain it so that it is national, so that the clubs do not become an international ensemble like artists in a show.
"No. Keep the national identity. If you do keep that national identity, you have other advantages.
"The first advantage is that the population where the club is playing can identify with that club. This idea will balance the leagues and enhance the quality of the national team.
Pressure
"Go to any country and ask the population if they like their national team. They do like the national team, like the anthem, the national colours and the flag and to be together."
Blatter, who recently vowed to block the Premier League's proposal for a round of 'international fixtures', plans to secure the agreement of Fifa's 208 member associations in Sydney in May.
And after warning the Football Association it risks losing the bid for the 2018 World Cup if the Premier League went ahead with the global proposal, English football's governing body could be under pressure to vote in favour of Blatter's 'six plus five' rule.
In order for a cap to be legal, Fifa will need the European Union to agree to make sport an exception to its employment laws, which guarantee freedom of movement for its citizens.
