La Liga Opens Doors to African Players
By: Daryl | October 6th, 2007
While the ever popular Sepp Blatter is looking to ignore EU regulations and impose limits on the number of foreign players in every European team, La Liga is going in the opposite direction. All Spanish clubs are allowed just three non-EU players in their squads, and that hasn’t changed, but a new agreement means players from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific will now be treated as if they were EU players.
The bit of paper that will make Sepp so happy is called the Cotonu accord, which agrees to treat African, Caribbean and Pacific workers as EU citizens. It was signed back in 2000 by the Association of African, Caribbean and Pacific states and the EU, and ratified by Spanish parliament in April 2006. Recently La Liga sides Real Madrid and Getafe enquired with the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) about this applying to footballers, the RFEF had words with UEFA and FIFA, and now we have agreement.
“From now on players from these countries that play in Spain will be considered as coming from the European Union as will those that sign in the future,” RFEF spokesman Jorge Carretero was quoted as saying in sports daily Marca on Saturday.
Great news for the likes of Barcelona’s Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto’o and Real Madrid’s Malian midfielder Mahamadou Diarra. But also good news for African players in the future, who won’t have to worry about taking up one of the three slots and therefore potentially missing out.
In a weird way it’s also good news for all the South American imports to La Liga. They’re not directly affected by the new agreement, but with African players no longer taking up any of the three slots, there’s a little more space for talented Brazilians, Argentinians, Uruguayans etc to play in Spain. Which if you’ve been watching Sergio Ageuro this season, you’ll know is a good thing.
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Tags: Africa, La Liga, Mahamadou Diarra, Samuel Etoo, Spain, Spain La Liga, World Football, World SoccerSubscribe
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Comments
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Agüero is a beast this season. He is all over the place, and has that Argentian flair like Messi.
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United States
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Unfortunately, many Spanish fans are not so welcoming of African players. In fact, Spain is ranked as one of the countries with the most racist incidents in football stadiums throughout Europe. It is no coincidence that there are a lack of north African players in La Liga clubs while they are a biggest immigrant group in Spain. Indeed, the Moroccan legend Mustapha Hadji who played for many years in Spain said this is where he experienced the most racism…….What a shame for Espana.
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United States -
Yes do you remember the racist abuse directed towards Carlos Kameni, FROM HIS OWN FANS!!! But I must say this is a very positive thing for the Spanish league.
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United States -
Yes, pretty disgusting and Kameni is one of the best keepers around. I don’t know why African players would even want to play in Spain, Germany, Italy or eastern Europe. France and England are the best options for any young African player trying to develop and not have to worry about a bunch of savages in the stands.
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United States -
First of all, to ask ‘why African players would even want to play in Spain, Germany, Italy or eastern Europe’ is to suggest that the majority of spectators in these countries are racists. This is not the case at all; it’s a ridiculous, rhetorical question.
In particular, why would they want to play in Liga? Because it’s one of the top (if not the #1) leagues in the world.
I do agree that Kameni is an excellent and largely underrated goalkeeper.
cheers,
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United States -
Also, Spain will always attract more players from South America because there is no language barrier (Brasilians the one exception). Quite a few of these players tend to hold Euro passports as they qualify through their parents or grandparents.
There’s also the 3 extracommunitarian rule to consider as well, of course.
cheers,
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United States -
Atleti,
Great bit of excuse making lad. Unfortunately for you, reality is reality and the countless incidents and horrors coming from these particular countries are well documented. Of course it is ridiculous to think that all individuals in these places are racist and I will not even address such piffle on your part. However, a tendency and underlying cultural and historical problems converge to produce such ignorant responses from the masses of these nations. Sorry but the truth hurts.
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United States -
Excuses? If you’re insuating that I’m ‘defending’ the minority of attendees who are chanting racist remarks, you are mistaken. Please read what I wrote again. Your reply to my comments is incredibly condescending.
I take offence to your comment that Spaniards (not to mention the other nationalities you mentioned) are ‘a bunch of savages in the stands’ as I am half-Spaniard and have attended countless games in Spain.
Yes, there are certain stadiums with particular support groups known for despicable behaviours towards players of African descent- it’s the responsibility of the FA to punish clubs more harshly for that. The current system is a joke.
re Liga: South Americans will always outnumber extracommunitarians from Africa because of the language, cultural and historical ties. Many Africans tend to begin their careers in France because they come from countries with French as an official language: Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, et al. Many begin their trade there and eventually leave for other leagues, eg Toure (Barcelona), Zokora (Spurs), Drogba (Chelsea), Diarra (Madrid), Kanoute (Sevilla).
cheers,
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United States -
Atleti,
I am sorry that the truth offends you. I also have Spanish ancestry yet that has nothing to do with the issue at hand. That would be the equivalent of someone with German ancestry excusing actions of German neo-nazis. You have obviously misread and misrepresented my comments in order to bolster your illogic. I never said these nationals were savages. I specifically said these vicious fanatics in the stands ARE savages and I stand by that. Nevertheless, to say that this is nothing but a small group of extremists is misleading. I am sorry to say but there exists a phobia for immigrants particularly non-European ones in many European countries. Particularly those European countries that are more homogenous like Spain, Italy, and some of the Eastern European states. This social ill is less pronounced in more heterogenous nations like France and England, specifically in the major cities. So you are incorrect when you associate these dispicable actions with a small minority. You do a great disservice to the polemic.
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United States -
Bolster my illogic? To clarify, I’m talking about racist chanting and behaviours towards players in football stadiums– there are ultras of certain stadiums that do this. It is THESE attendees that verbally abuse players on pitch. Yes, obviously, racism isn’t confined to ‘ultras’. I’m not arguing with you on the larger issues. I’ve lived in Europe for quite some time and I’m familiar with what you mention.
English is not my first language, so perhaps I did misread you a bit.
cheers,
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United States -
The ‘opening up’ of the labour market for African (and Caribbean and Pacific Ocean) footballers may eventually and hopefully result in a decreasing of the racism that is to be seen in Spanish football stadia and which is largely ignored by the authorities.
Similar behaviour was prevalent in Britain in the 70s and even into the 80s, but is now considered totally unacceptable and does not only result in lifetime bans from the stadia in question, but can also lead to criminal prosecution.
Britain has had a large immigrant population since the 1950s, whereas Spain has only experienced this in recent years following its economic resurgence. Perhaps the length of time has contributed to changes in attitudes in Britain that Spain has yet to come to terms with.
Britain is by no means without racism (indeed, in certain areas it is a very real and serious problem) but it has taken many steps, both social and legal, to try to address the situation and to stamp out the kind of ‘unthinking’ racism that led Luis Aragonés to say what he did about Thierry Henry and honestly believe he did nothing wrong.
It is truly ironic how some Spaniards perceive the British as racist, such as the president of the Spanish Motorsport Federation, voicing his opinion about the Formula One rivaly between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton: “”It is perfectly normal for a British team and British fans wanting to succeed in formula one but it is ironic that the racists in England are having to rely on a coloured pilot.”
Jay, atleti, I think you both basically agree with each other (with nuances) in that such behaviour is unacceptable and has no place in football (or indeed anywhere else). Regarding whether some European countries are better than others for young African players to develop, I won’t be drawn on this; I think it depends on the individual and how they deal with it. But it is worth noting that the courage exhibited by black players (mostly of Caribbean descent) in Britain was partly responsible for eventually changing the attitudes of the fans.
Sorry for the long post. I’ve only just read it back and realised how long I’ve gone on for!
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United Kingdom -
Please we the Barcelona suporters here in Nigeria will like to know when are we comming for tour in NIGERIA cause we have talented players that can be sign with the most greatest club FCB we have the live of KANU,YOBO,MIKEL,OKECHUKWU,UTAKA,KAITA. etc
Posted from
United Kingdom
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