Blatter bid to put limit on foreign players wins FIFA backing

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Football's world governing body voted by 155 to 5 in favour of the 'six-plus-five rule', which had been proposed by their president.

Blatter now hopes the controversial rule, which would limit every team to only five foreigners in their starting XI, will be in place by the 2012/13 season.

He pointed to the Premier League's dominance in this season's Champions League as an example of why his organisation must implement the idea, despite legal concerns from the European Union.

Blatter said: "Before today we were somewhere in the crossroad between the interests of clubs and national teams but the congress of FIFA have given very clear indications of where we have to go.

"It is an overwhelming support to this resolution.

"Is it illegal? If there is a law, a law can be amended.

"I have a meeting with the chairman of the European parliament next Thursday in Brussels to explore now the issue. If he says to explore the ways, it's not to say 'stop it', so you see we're on the right track."

FIFA's proposal is different from a "home-grown players" rule proposed by UEFA, European football's governing body.

UEFA define "home-grown players" as team members who, regardless of age or nationality, have been trained by their club or by another club in the national association for at least three years between the ages of 15 and 21.

The Commission has approved the UEFA arrangement because, says Brussels, it contains no conditions based on nationality.

FA chief executive Brian Barwick is unconvinced by FIFA's proposal.

"It's about balance," he said. "We're still great believers in the meritocracy that players should be in the team on performance and on ability first and foremost.

"Also European law at the moment is pretty exacting on these issues and unless those hurdles can be overcome there are still issues to take forward."