Originally Posted by USA Today

6+5 rule is 'illegal'

The European Union's top sports official reiterated to a gathering of football clubs on Tuesday that a FIFA proposal to restrict their selection of foreign players was illegal.

Jan Figel, the European Commissioner responsible for sport, reassured members of the European Club Association (ECA) that the so-called "6+5" rule favored by football's global governing body could not be imposed on them. It would limit clubs to start matches with a maximum of five foreign players in the lineup.

"Six-plus-five as it stands now is not compatible with the EU laws," Figel told The Associated Press after his speech to officials from more than 100 clubs, including Barcelona, Manchester United and Real Madrid.

ECA advisers made a presentation to members at their assembly contrasting the upside and problems of the FIFA-backed rule.

"No one now says that they are in favor of six-plus-five, no one," Inter Milan general manager Ernesto Paolillo said after the meeting.

Both FIFA and European authority UEFA agree that clubs need to promote local talent and retain their national identity. Some teams like Arsenal and Inter have been known to start league matches with 11 foreigners.

FIFA's national members have given their president Sepp Blatter a mandate to continue seeking political support for the worldwide rule.

But European lawmakers say FIFA's plan discriminates on the grounds of nationality, and favor UEFA's "homegrown" rule which would require continental clubs to carry a quota of players of any nationality who were trained in that country.

"It is true that we accept indirect discrimination," Figel said of the homegrown rule. "But we underlined that the measures proposed can be seen as pursuing a legitimate objective. The objective is the investment in young talent, training young people and sustainability of competitions.

"We agree with FIFA on the objectives but the solution must be further evolved," he said.

A version of UEFA's homegrown rule applies to its Champions League competition where clubs must include at least eight home-trained players in a squad of 25.

The rule could apply to leagues across Europe's 53 football nations after the EU's proposed Lisbon Treaty reform program is likely approved. It would allow sports some special exemptions from labor and competition laws to run their own affairs.

"It means that sport has special character. But not in conflict with the EU's basic principles," Figel said.

The Slovak official ends his five-year European Commission mandate next month, but said responsibility for the policy would pass to his successor.