Blatter wins backing for limits on overseas players

The Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, is determined to take his "six plus five" proposal to restrict foreign players in domestic leagues to the next level after gaining the backing of the European confederation.

Blatter said during two days of meetings here that Fifa's executive board had unanimously agreed on a resolution to take to Friday's congress "exploring" the implementation of the restrictive quota proposals.

"This will be more than just further talks and investigations," the Fifa president said yesterday. A Fifa spokesman added that the objectives of Blatter's six plus five plan had been agreed by the Fifa executive committee, including the Uefa president, Michael Platini. Blatter said he would be asking the congress to give the president a mandate to impose the same rules outside Europe if required.

The plan aims to force clubs by 2012 to start games with at least six home-grown players, and limit the number of foreign players to five. Blatter also wants other sports federations to join the cause. "The congress shall request the Fifa and Uefa presidents together with the world of sport, including the IOC [International Olympic Committee] to explore all means within the limits of law to implement this rule," he said.

The proposal aims to restore "national identity" to club teams while reducing the drain of players from other continents. Limits on the number of EU players in European leagues were successfully challenged under the 1995 Bosman ruling. But Blatter said having at least six players who are eligible to play for a country's national team would motivate young footballers.

The proposal faces opposition from clubs with large numbers of foreign players and those who want free-market rules to apply to the game. But Blatter said he would meet the president of the European parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering, on 5 June in Brussels to lobby for support. He is proposing the phased introduction of a "four plus seven" system in 2010, increasing to five plus six in 2011 and six plus five in 2012.

* The United Arab Emirates beat bids from Australia and Japan to host the 2009 and 2010 finals of the Club World Cup.