MEPs say no to restrictions on footballers

MEPs are set to show the red card to plans byinternational football association FIFA to limit the number offoreign players in a team.

The organisation wants to cap the number of overseas players in ateam to five but some deputies say this is not compatible withrules on the free movement of persons in the EU.

Belgian MEP Ivo Belet, rapporteur on a parliamentary report on thefuture of professional football in Europe said, "FIFA wants tooblige clubs to invest more in home-grown talent, a goal which wesupport 100 per cent.

"However, this is not compatible with the free movement of personsin the EU. The treaty is very clear on this point - discriminationon the basis of nationality is not allowed and this also counts infootball."

"With this ruling, football is going back to the era before theMarc Bosman verdict [on football transfer rules]."

Instead, Belet, a member of parliament's sports committee, saidclubs should have a minimum number of locally-trained players inthe team. He suggests eight out of 25 players, of which he saysfour should be trained by the club and four trained in the sameleague.

"This is not perfect and is fairly modest in its approach but itdoes encourage clubs to invest more in locally trained talent and,therefore, deserves our full support."

"Moreover, this measure does not impose any limitations as regardsthe nationality of players."

Under the Lisbon treaty, the EU, which currently has limited powersin the sports field, will get a bigger say in such issues.

Belet said the aim of his report was to ensure that sports such asfootball are not “ruined” by “pure business interests and courtcases”.

His report is expected to be endorsed by MEPs in a plenary vote onThursday.

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