<span class="titolo">The English Question: Is Blatter's Foreign Policy A Good Idea?</span></p> <span class="sommario">Following FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s most recent crusade into the controversial, Jonathan Lloyd asks whether a limit on foreign players would damage the Premier League.</span></p> It’s an interesting, and unbelievable fact that when the Premiership was born fifteen years ago, just 11 foreign players were registered to play in England.</p> Fast forward a decade and a half and almost every single top flight club, and the majority of Championship clubs have 11 foreign stars on their books, each.</p> At this moment in time, the Premier League is as big as it ever has been, hundreds of millions of people tuning in every week, from all around the globe, to see there favourite club or player.</p> The amount of revenue the league generates is baffling, so too the transfer fees paid to bring the world’s best footballing talents into the country by the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea.</p> The latest proposal from the man that suggested women play in ‘sexier’ kits, is that there should be a cap on the amount of foreign players at every club, in every league in Europe. Few would deny that the Premier League would be most affected.</p> It’s Blatter’s intention to limit the amount of foreign stars a team can field.</p> "When you have 11 foreigners in a team, this is not good for the development of football," said Blatter. "Football has never had the courage to go against this practice but it must now. This explains our desire to push forward the "6+5" principal." The quirkily titled ‘6+5’ principle sees clubs being limited to fielding five foreign players.</p> He added: "This is a matter of principle. We need to protect the national identity of the football clubs. The EU say that this is not possible based on free circulation of workers but in football principles are different – footballers are not workers and you must be 11 players not one.”</p> The point Blatter so readily pushed aside is that it is illegal, under European law to stand in the way of those wishing to move countries for work, unless there is an adequate reason.</p> So it might come to fruition that this is another one of the president’s plans that does nothing more than stir debate. Which is where we come in.</p> If the argument is based on preserving and encouraging home-grown talents for the good of the country, it’s flawed beyond belief. Prior to 1992 England had not won a major international honour since 1966. Enter the foreign contingent, and England have still not won anything, so no change shown.</p> It’s true that something needs to be done to address the grotesque amount of money changed hands in the football industry, but limiting the mount of foreign stars is not only inaccurate, it’s diversionary from the real source of the problem: greedy businessmen.</p> Finally, if the amount of talented world footballers playing in the Premier League decreases, so too does the competition for the English players worthy of playing in the Premiership and internationally. In actual fact, rather than damaging the opportunities, it inhibits them. Academies will not fail; youngsters will always want to play football, regardless of where their idols come from. If they are good enough, they will get into the team. And if there is a higher level of competition, the level of progress will inherently rise.</p> Do you think a limit to the amount of foreign players in the Premier League is a good thing?</p> What affect will it have on the English national team?</p> If a maximum of five is too harsh, what should be the limit?</p> If the plan is put in place, what does the future hold for the Premier League?</p> </p>
It would ruin the PRemier league as we are seen as the best League in the world and that is only because of players such as: Fabregas, Torres, Van Persie, Tevez, etc And also Premier league laegends like: Henry, Zola, Cantona, Bergkamp etc so to limit the no. of foreign players would kill the Premier league.</p>
Have to agree with you there. The game is international now, so there shouldn't be a limit on foregin players. I believe Spain has a limit. I read recently that Ronaldinho became a spanish citizen, therefore leaving a spot for a foreign player to be signed. (or something like that, I'm not sure, I'll see if I can find the story)</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Have to agree with you there. The game is international now, so there shouldn't be a limit on foregin players. I believe Spain has a limit. I read recently that Ronaldinho became a spanish citizen, therefore leaving a spot for a foreign player to be signed. (or something like that, I'm not sure, I'll see if I can find the story)</p> </div></p> I think the spanish rule is you can only Sign one Non-European player a season.</p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Max)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Have to agree with you there. The game is international now, so there shouldn't be a limit on foregin players. I believe Spain has a limit. I read recently that Ronaldinho became a spanish citizen, therefore leaving a spot for a foreign player to be signed. (or something like that, I'm not sure, I'll see if I can find the story)</p> </div></p> I think the spanish rule is you can only Sign one Non-European player a season.</p> </p> </div></p> So thats what it was. lol</p> I knew it was about him becoming a spanish citizen to make way for others.</p> So all the euro teams have that rule? (I don't think there should be a limit on that either)</p> Also why not make the champions league for the whole world. haha</p> </p>
With the European treaty the way it is there is nothing that can be done about it. These "foreigners" are justexcercising their right to work over here. If they're not in the European Union they like anyone else needs an home office work permit with legitimate "skills" in your profession i'e played for your country a certain amount of time as to prove that you are not taking the job of someone just as capable from Europe( Unless you're signing for United). In reality I would love to see the league full of top class English men but it aint goona happen. And will someone please tell all these delusional Gooners to stop mentioning Fabregas as someone special!</p>
<font face="Arial" color="#000000" size="2">I think put a limit of three players in starting line up because that is fair in my opinion</font></p>
