European clubs opposed to FIFA's 6+5 foreigners quota

By Mark Ledsom BERNE, Switzerland, July 8 (Reuters) - The newly-formed European Club Association (ECA) has used its first meeting to oppose FIFA's controversial 6+5 proposal aimed at restricting the number of foreign players in starting line-ups. The ECA said in a statement on Tuesday that its 103 members had "strongly endorsed the stance" taken by chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and vice-chairman Joan Laporta after talks last month with EU Commissioner Vladimir Spidla. "In ECA's view, there is no necessity for a 6+5 rule, and the organisation favours instead UEFA's 'home-grown' approach," the statement added. FIFA president Sepp Blatter has personally championed the 6+5 proposal which would limit clubs to fielding just five foreign players at the start of a match. Blatter has argued that his idea would strengthen national... [read full story]