Blatter continues quota crusade

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Having vowed to torpedo Premier League plans to hold matches overseas, Blatter insists he is equally bent on forcing top-flight teams to start every match with at least six England-qualified players, believing this will eventually break the stranglehold of the so-called 'big four'.

Blatter said in the Daily Mirror: "In England, you have just four teams, maybe five, who are there fighting for the title and qualification for European competitions."

"All the other clubs are simply playing not to get relegated," he added. "They are just sparring partners. That's not enough.

"It is not only England. The situation is the same in France, Spain and Germany. A young player entering a big club has no more motivation that they can move through the ranks to play in the first team, because the manager will just go and buy players on the free market. The clubs do not try to educate players.

"You have to remember the origins of the game was local, the team was from a local area. Then it became regional. But now we have to maintain it so that it is national, so that the clubs do not become an international ensemble like artists in a show.

"Keep the national identity. If you do keep that national identity, you have other advantages."

Blatter added: "The first advantage is that the population where the club is playing can identify with that club. This idea will balance the leagues and enhance the quality of the national team.

"Go to any country and ask the population if they like their national team. They do like the national team, like the anthem, the national colours and the flag and to be together."