Blatter's bvanging on about quotas again

[Gilps]

It Says Here

 

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has told the BBC he is ready to challenge the European Union to get a quota on foreign players within European teams.

 

Blatter made his comments in response to an NOP poll of football fans for BBC1's Football Focus.

 

He wants clubs to be limited to five foreigners in their starting XI to allow homegrown talent to flourish.

 

The proposal contravenes EU law but Blatter says football needs to act and says a reduction "is a good solution".

 

The 71-year-old Swiss argues that football deserves special treatment because it is not like any other job.

 

 

"Workers in Europe can circulate freely but footballers are not workers," he said.

 

"You cannot consider a footballer like any normal worker because you need 11 to play a match - and they are more artists than workers."

 

BBC Sport revealed last month just how much the number of foreigners plying their trade in the Premier League had increased since 1992 and the Football Association has already expressed its concern over the impact that has had on home-grown players.

 

Now Football Focus has shown that fans have concerns, too.

 

When asked if there should be a quota of foreign players per club in the English Premier League, 56% of the 1055 people surveyed said they were in favour.

 

The EU has recently unveiled plans to impose more regulations on football and says the sport should only have limited immunity from rules governing employment.

 

However, Blatter says he is ready to fight any EU move.

 

"Football has never had the courage to go against this practice," he said.

 

"When you have 11 foreigners in a team, this is not good for the development of football, for the education of young players, and there is a financial aspect, too."

 

The Football Focus survey also asked for opinions on several other important issues, notably:

• 78% said too much money is spoiling the game
  
• 85% said match tickets are too expensive
  
• And 63% want the introduction of video technology
  

See the full interview with Sepp Blatter on BBC1's Football Focus from 1210 BST on Saturday.

[Stevie H]

"You cannot consider a footballer like any normal worker because you need 11 to play a match - and they are more artists than workers."

he can f*** right off with that.

[Gilps]

he can f*** right off with that.

 

I'd expect the European Courts to stick in a few flowery words, but that'll be the general gist, aye.

 

56% of the surveyed fans say they want this though, as opposed to a mere 85% saying tickets are too expensive, so you can see why its a priority.

[Bailo]

I'd expect the European Courts to stick in a few flowery words, but that'll be the general gist, aye.

 

56% of the surveyed fans say they want this though, as opposed to a mere 85% saying tickets are too expensive, so you can see why its a priority.

Exactly what I thought this morning. Funny how the reform that'll upset the most people is the first considered and maintains the financial status quo.

[cymrococh]

Football would be rubbish without foreigners.

[John am Rhein]

EU to Blatter: "Next!"

[Buzz]

It Says Here

 

"You cannot consider a footballer like any normal worker because you need 11 to play a match - and they are more artists than workers."

SO are we gonna see the ruling same with Bands in the charts and stuff....

Also, is Blatter gonna push for players prices to be capped or regulated? so that a half decent English squad player doesn't cost the same as a very good player from abroad?.

[Gilps]

SO are we gonna see the ruling same with Bands in the charts and stuff....

Also, is Blatter gonna push for players prices to be capped or regulated? so that a half decent English squad player doesn't cost the same as a very good player from abroad?.

 

Without that, prices for half decent English players would soar even more, what with everyone knowing there were quotas to be filled.

[Maldini]

It's restriction of trade no matter what way you look at it. The average player in England earns more than a player of simialr standard in Holland say, why should he not be allowed to move freely within the EU to earn the best wage he can?

 

There's also the fact that some clubs only survive by selling to foreign teams.

[John am Rhein]

"When you have 11 foreigners in a team, this is not good for the development of football, for the education of young players, and there is a financial aspect, too."

 

You could say that about any job, FFS. Too many foreign waiters in London? Not good for the development of restaurants, for the education of young waiters and there is a financial aspect too.

[DazzlaJ]

You could say that about any job, FFS. Too many foreign waiters in London? Not good for the development of restaurants, for the education of young waiters and there is a financial aspect too.

 

Nail on head, lazy f***ers! Get em on Hells Kitchen

[_00_deathscar]

There's also the fact that some clubs only survive by selling to foreign teams.

 

The People's Club?