Number of foreign players in Premiership teams to be limited under FIFA's 'six plus five' plans

The ‘six-plus-five’ rule would signal a massive change in the game, particularly in the Premier League where recent studies revealed just 34 per cent of players were English.

One of the clubs likely to be most affected by the plans are Arsenal, whose starting XI features the highest number of overseas players.

Arsene Wenger’s side currently has just one Englishman in its ranks, Theo Walcott.

Manchester United celebrate their recent Champions League victory. The side contained six English players

FA Cup winners, Portsmouth, could also be hit hard as much of the South-Coast club's success this season has been built on a large contingent of African-born players recruited by manager Harry Redknapp.

Governing body Fifa voted for the proposals at the Fifa Congress in Sydney and President Sepp Blatter is aiming to bring them into effect in time for the 2012/2013 season.

'The congress was very happy in a result of overwhelming majority, with 155 votes in favour and five against. 155 yes and five no', Blatter said.

'Today we were at crossroads between the interests of clubs and national teams. FIFA has given very clear indications of where we have to go.

Arsene Wenger (Arsenal) and Harry Redknapp (Portsmouth) will be among the clubs most affected by Fifa's proposals, announced today

'We want to bring some remedies and this is the six-plus-five rule's objective.'

He added: 'The application of such a system would start only at the end of 2010 and we would start progressively with four, five and six.'

The proposals are unlikely to receive the backing of the European Union, who say the move is illegal and contravenes European law which permits workers to move freely between member countries.

John McDonald, spokesman for the EU Commissioner for Sport,  told BBC 5 Live: ‘It’s a non-starter as far as we’re concerned.

'They can explore as much as they like but a 6-plus-5 rule is against Community legislation.'

Europe's commissioner for equal opportunities, Vladimir Spidla, said: 'We are giving the red card to the 6-plus-5 rule.'

FIFA President Sepp Blatter's controversial plans would limit the number of foreign players allowed to start any club match to five

Blatter, who will meet to discuss the matter with the EU on June 5, said: 'Is it illegal? For whom? For when? If there is a law, a law can be amended.

'It's to make sure that there is better balance in the competitions and not only three or four teams in a league of 18 or 20 are fighting to be the champion and all the others are just there to not be relegated.

'Manchester United won the European Champions League with six players eligible for a Great Britain team, so we are not far away.'