Euro clubs reject FIFA foreign players limit

Europe's best and wealthiest soccer clubs rejected FIFA's plan to restrict their use of foreign players on Tuesday. Members of the new European Club Association — representing 103 teams from 53 nations — used their first business meeting to reject the so-called '6+5' rule proposed by Sepp Blatter, president of world soccer's governing body, to protect the national identity of clubs. The rule would force clubs to start matches with at least six players eligible to play for the national team and a maximum of just five foreigners, despite European Union law on the freedom of movement of workers. Clubs prefer a plan put forward by European governing body UEFA which is based on a quota of players on the roster who were developed in that country, regardless of nationality. "There is no necessity for a 6+5 rule and the organization... [read full story]