First sensible thing Blatter has ever said?

[Tooting Gull]

He's wanting to take on the EU over their opposition to quotas for home/foreign-based players at European clubs.

While in the short term you can only see a lengthy legal battle in which the Belgian lawyers are the big winners, at least he's trying.

I know there are differing views on this subject, but personally I think any English side fielding a team of only foreigners has abdicated all responsibility to help bring on the homegrown talent.

It is sometimes argued that a quota would stop them learning off the likes of Zola, Bergkamp, Ronaldo etc. That is bollocks. Those players would still be in demand, come over, and be in the first team.

It's the panic-buy, cheap, European 'squad-filler' players who would be hit, and give the kids a chance.

 

[sten_super]

He won't get anywhere.

He can't even challenge them in courts; the laws are clear, you cannot discriminate against EU workers. All he can do is apply for an exemption for football; something that I can't see the EU lawmakers ever agreeing to.

edit: to add, I also like his reasoning as to why football should have an exemption "because you need 11 players in a team". That's like me saying that factory workers should be exempt because you need 25 to run a production line!

 

[Easy 10]

He won't get anywhere.

He can't even challenge them in courts; the laws are clear, you cannot discriminate against EU workers.

So why can't we say that football clubs can EMPLOY as many foreign players in their squad as they like - but they can only put x number (say a maximum of 6) on the field at any one time ? That way, its a law within the game of football, not an employent law as such. Its not restricting employment as clubs will still be signing foreign players, in theory as many as they like, but they're just likely to be more selective as clubs know they are obligated to field a proportion of home-grown players as well.

Thats not being restrictive. Its being selective.

 

[Napper]

So why can't we say that football clubs can EMPLOY as many foreign players in their squad as they like - but they can only put x number (say a maximum of 6) on the field at any one time ? That way, its a law within the game of football, not an employent law as such. Its not restricting employment, as clubs will still be signing foreign players, in theory as many as they like, but they're just likely to be more selective, as clubs know they are obligated to field a proportion of home-grown players as well.

Thats not being restrictive. Its being selective.

yes that would be good way round it.

would we be allowed british players ?

 

[Stinkers Bridge]

I just want football to be the winner and everyone to have a nice time.

 

[sten_super]

So why can't we say that football clubs can EMPLOY as many foreign players in their squad as they like - but they can only put x number (say a maximum of 6) on the field at any one time ? That way, its a law within the game of football, not an employent law as such. Its not restricting employment as clubs will still be signing foreign players, in theory as many as they like, but they're just likely to be more selective as clubs know they are obligated to field a proportion of home-grown players as well.

Thats not being restrictive. Its being selective.

I don't know the answer, but I'd guess if it was that easy then it would have been done already. I suspect that it still represents some hinderance to employment.

 

[Easy 10]

yes that would be good way round it.

would we be allowed british players ?

Dunno. I'd be ok with including scots/irish/welsh into the english equation as well, as long as it doesn't mean we get lumbered with a British national team.

 

[Easy 10]

I don't know the answer, but I'd guess if it was that easy then it would have been done already. I suspect that it still represents some hinderance to employment.

I suspect that too many people within the game simply make too much money out of the current merry-go-round in foreign transfers to actually want it to change. What do players, agents and clubs care about the health and long-term implications for the the domestic leagues they operate in ? As long as they're all getting their WEDGE right now from the ridiculously inflated transfer market, they couldn't give a toss - they would actively oppose any proposed changes that might lead to fewer foreign transfers.

Turkeys voting for Christmas and all that.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

the problem with this idea is when a british teams wants to buy a british player he will cost at least DOUBLE. will never work.

 

[ATFC Seagull]

Could they not at least instigate a restriction on non-EU players to start off with? I know that South American/African players often have methods of gaining European passports, and that the majority of overseas players in Britain are EU anyway, but it at least would go some way to limiting foreign players and giving homegrown talent more space...

 

[ATFC Seagull]

the problem with this idea is when a british teams wants to buy a british player he will cost at least DOUBLE. will never work.

Not sure, these days the premiership clubs have the money, they just don't want to spend it. If due to the rules, they are forced to buy British talent to fill positions in their squad, then when they turn to Championship sides to buy the best British players, they will have no option but to pay the higher prices demanded, which in turn might filter down the leagues.

 

[BensGrandad]

Was there not a rule once that you could only field 3 players who were not eligible to play for the country in which the club is based. The EU laws then came into being because of French German Italien etc. The EU has now grown so that virtually 80% of players come here under EU rules. The only way it would work is if there was a restriction on the number of players taking part in a particular game but still being employed by the club thus not offending EU laws but also if it was adopted by all FAs within the EU to stop Africans, Brazilians etc joining eg a French club for a time to obtain an EU permit to work. The problem here is that the big clubs want the Brazilians, Argentinians etc.

 

[BigGully]

He's wanting to take on the EU over their opposition to quotas for home/foreign-based players at European clubs.

While in the short term you can only see a lengthy legal battle in which the Belgian lawyers are the big winners, at least he's trying.

I know there are differing views on this subject, but personally I think any English side fielding a team of only foreigners has abdicated all responsibility to help bring on the homegrown talent.

It is sometimes argued that a quota would stop them learning off the likes of Zola, Bergkamp, Ronaldo etc. That is bollocks. Those players would still be in demand, come over, and be in the first team.

It's the panic-buy, cheap, European 'squad-filler' players who would be hit, and give the kids a chance.

Exactly right...its a massive problem and something that will also impact on us the supporter.

The real problem isnt the Zolas or Bergkamps and Henry's but the whole infrastructure of the club's now.

If you bring in Foreign Owners and Foreign Managers it is obvious that the backroom staff also are likely to be Foreign.

Then when they are looking for players they are likely to use their cultural and national contacts and before you know it you have bang average Premier League players which disproportianately represent that Managers Nationality.

Jose Mouhrinho when at Chelsea brought in a number of Portugese players and Academy players.

Frank Arnhisen has done the same with the Academy including 3 Danish players.

Rafa at Liverpool well........

Wenger at Arsenal choca with French and their Northern African links.

How was it Wenger indentified Rooney as the best young English player when he scored against Arsenal but I dont remember him putting a bid in for him as a young 14 yr old at Everton, but he can unearth a 14yr old in deepest darkest Africa !! Forget about price...spending a few million on a young Rooney would of been good business !! but he doesnt care too much for the English talent, discarding Bentley and Sidwell. What players might they of been if he lavished support resources and trust on those two ??

And as for Moyes.......full of sweaty's..........they really are !!

Man Utd Academy is full of pasty Scots and Irish........

Bizaarely Allydice and Redknapp dont favour nthe English....

 

[Monkster]

the problem with this idea is when a british teams wants to buy a british player he will cost at least DOUBLE. will never work.

EXACTLY

Theres in rule in Scotland now which they have to include 3 Homegrown players(i think) in the squad for a game......which has it's own problems because, it doesn't necessarily mean that they a) play a game b) stops the team from picking a sub that can ACTUALLY do a job based on skill rather than nationality

 

[bn3gunner]

Good post Big Gully, but as a gooner id like to defend arsene, look at the young English guys he has made the effort with, Pennant is the first one that springs to mind, look at the way he acted, then you have the likes of Sidwell and Bentley grown through the ranks but never quite turned it on and scince they have left the club they both seem a bit gobby in my opinion, Then we have Mr Cashley Hole the man with as much loyalty as a two dollar whore and the likes of Richard Wright , Francis Jeffers etc who never really cut it. Secondly why break the bank for mediocre over rated and over priced players like marcus bent, when you can buy two foreign unknown player for half the price thus keeping your club financially stable and still in with a chance of silverware. I think the influx of froeign footballers has made the game better and our national team has done bugger all for over 40 years ( a good 25 before the ''foreign invasion)so why would that make it any different, maybe we should take a closer look at how coach our kids and maybe even the bigger picture how we all bring our kids up

 

[BigGully]

Never underestimate opportunity in football.

Stats show that opportunity for English players will increase when there is less Foreign managers and backroom staff.

Prior to the 'Foreign invasion' our game was ran basically by our Scottish and Irish neighbours.

Every club had Scottish or Irish Coaches and Managers and surprise surprise Ireland and Scotland became a hotbed of football talent, they never were they were a hotbed of Irish & Scottish Opportunity.

Resulting in those National Teams overperforming.

 

[London Calling]

I don't get this, we can limit foreign players in Cricket, in Rugby League but not football?

 

[Perry Milkins]

I just want football to be the winner and everyone to have a nice time.

and do not forget the children of MileOak.

 

[Gwylan]

I don't get this, we can limit foreign players in Cricket, in Rugby League but not football?

Because the clubs want it that way.

If the PL wanted to limit the number of foreign players in a team they could. But as they're cheap it suits their purpose to stay with the status quo.

 

[Beach Hut]

Never happen in a month of Sundays as EU law I'm afraid