Comments on: Friday afternoon question: Does 6 + 5 equal nothing but trouble?

By: living abroad

living abroad — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 21:10:19 +0000

How does this actually help countries that have little or no competition in their own countries? By allowing the big league countries, like England, Italy, and Spain to hire players from other countries helps to create better players. How could countries like the US ever begin to produce quality talent? At the moment there are very few who even make a roster abroad, let alone a starting line up. Look at the African leagues. How many of these players would be at the top level that they are if their dreams were to play for an African club. If the top clubs in Italy, England, and Spain can’t put together a team full of their nationals then there’s a reason. Fans want to see the best players in the world compete, not the best players from their country.
Countries that will lose out on this deal are the ones with leagues outside of Spain, Italy, England, and Germany. The leagues would start to become less interesting. Nationalism and racism would begin to grow. How is this a benefit to the sport?
Can anyone argue that England is not one of the best teams in Europe at the moment? Yet the top teams in the league don’t follow a 6+5 rule. If this rule passes I hope the English Premier league(and others) protest it.
Can you imagine if every company in the world had to follow these rules? Would you support an interviewer saying, “I’m sorry you are qualified for the position but we can’t hire any more foreigners. Instead we have to hire a less talented individual.” Or perhaps people saying, “you know, Coca Cola is too strong. We need to level out the playing field so that all soft drinks have a fair share.” Even if the world prefers to drink Coke(sorry coke haters, I don’t like it either but still).

By: K o G

K o G — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:58:07 +0000

its not soccer per se but the German bureaucratic mentality that has my knickers in a twist and I feel to get even.
If there is justice, please let the Germans send them home in disgrace.
….this from a US national; WWII German born and raised

By: harry hill

harry hill — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:58:33 +0000

Why aren’t national teams or womens only football teams governed by EU legislation?

By: soccer nation

soccer nation — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 03:48:40 +0000

I hate it how FIFA wants to control everything!

Let it go and let each country and league decides this stuff for themselves.

Soccer Nation

By: Mikkel K

Mikkel K — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:25:18 +0000

I cant believe in this day and age that such a proposal is even being considered.
It is nothing bu racism, discriminating against footballers, based on where in the world they were born and there is no other job in world where a manager could not hire someone because they were born on the wrong side of a \”border\”.
There are a few dutch teams who have squads which are 50% or more composed of African players from thier scouting schools out there. What would beome of these? These players are being given the chance to escape poverty…

Only in the crazy world of Football could we have players like Carlo Cudicini, an Italian able to play for the English National Team, but unable to play for his English club team, because he was born in Italy.
A FARCE!

By: Rolls Eyes

Rolls Eyes — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:17:31 +0000

The idea should have been drowned at birth. Illogical, illegal and the wrong solution to the problem. The only way to improve English players is through better youth training. Forcing clubs to play sub-par English players won’t make them any better!

Still, if Blatter wants to hang his hat on this, let him do it. With any luck the EU will slap this idea down so hard his position will become untenable and someone less loony gets the job.

By: Terry Lane

Terry Lane — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 18:38:40 +0000

As with many of Sepp Blatter’s plans, this is rubbish. The “6+5″ rule will not stop the richest clubs buying the best players, whether they are home-grown or not.

Besides a serious legal battle with the EU as regards the freedom of labour & movement, the only thing this will do is stop two or three leagues, currently the Premier League, Serie A & La Liga accumulating the majority of the best football players in the world.

Why does Sepp Blatter believe he has the backing of football fans?

By: Gio

Gio — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 12:43:43 +0000

It seems this ruling is purely to help the English national team develop decent players. Italy, Spain, France, Holland and Germany have no trouble finding the right balance. It’s only the money hungry premiership who need to be reminded that they are killing their chances of a world cup or euro win. http://gentrystyle.com/category/sport/

By: Vincent

Vincent — Sat, 31 May 2008 11:27:10 +0000

The fact that FIFA delegates backed Blatter overwhemingly says something.

All this talk about EU legislation is nonsense because FIFA represents football all over the world and not just in the EU.

If the EU won’t change its rules, then the rest of the world will have to do something to protect their interests.

EU law has already made many amendments to recognize the specificity of sports, and they can do it again.

If football clubs were to operate purely as businesses, such things as transfer fees would have to be abolished and clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool would be forced into bankruptcy.

It is unacceptable for 8-10 clubs in just four countries to monopolize clucb football and continue to threaten international football…

By: darren ennis

darren ennis — Sat, 31 May 2008 09:55:48 +0000

Kev,
Good questions. On your query about the rule merely being about what team you play and not about “signing” for a club - this according to EU (after they carried out a study) is still illegal on the grounds of “indirect discrimination”.
On the question of specificity. Yes it is mentioned in the new EU treaty, but as Mike Collett points out in his analysis on Reuters, the meaning/parametres are still to be discussed. But the EU will say specificity is not exclusivity. They will merely have sympathy with sport in some areas of EU law. Unfortunately the free movement of players is not negotiable since it has already been ruled upon by the European Court of Justice - remember the Bosman case ?
On your point about one squad for Champions League and another domestically. I think in some cases we already have this and I think it is wrong. Just look at the cup competitions in England and the loss of romantacism. Also if we take this road, we are on our way to a European Super league. Do we really want this ??