I’m against this for several reasons. First of all, it wouldn’t really improve the level of national teams. Why has England “dropped” in level? Not so much because of a “lack” in youth programmes (Manchester’s “Fergie’s Fledgelings” brought 6 players that were bred at the club to win the Champion’s League in 1999), but rather because England has seen it’s poverty decrease dramatically since the 70s, and from the country with the most unemployment in Europe, it has become one of those with the lowest unemployment. There are a lot of players who are very talented when they are 13-15, but who prefer to not persue a career in football because of the risks of not having a good career (lower league football, injury…), and mainly, other nations have emerged as footballing powerhouses.

Inara’s comment on how it would “help” the French league, I’m cautious about. Why are there so many french kids that become professional footballers? Because there’s more “talent” in France? I doubt it. I think it’s rather because there’s little other solution for them than to become a professional footballer, just like kids in the ghettoes in the USA become pro basketballers because it’s the -only- thing they can become.

The 6+5 would mean that countries with social problems where football is seen as the only way “out” of poverty would be slightly advantaged. And even then, would Irana really be happy if Lyon had to ditch 5 of their non-nationals… Because Lyon has 10 non-nationals on rooster, so that doesn’t solve the problem.

The 6+5 is a populist move that doesn’t make anything better. England will not become any better than it was in the 80s (a.k.a. crap), back when English teams had 8 UK players + 3 internationals (Irish players were counted as internationals). France will go back “down” to the level they had in the 70s (a.k.a. not brilliant either) because of clubs not investing anymore in young players (there are already too many of them, should they all come back to Ligue 1…)…

If clubs want to have a “strong” identity, then they can do what Athletic Bilbao does : only sign players that are locals. Or they can do what most clubs have done : incorporate these foreigners as part of their identity. Cantona as a legend in Manchester, Di Stefano as a legend in Madrid, Platini as a legend in Turin… Where’s the “mix of identity” there?

6 local players don’t need to be on the pitch all the time. The coaches can substitute them with foreign players.

My main problem with this rule is, that it’s going to cause a lot of problems when it comes to assembling a squad. Let’s say a team slides into an injury crisis and three local players who are starting XI regulars are injured for a longer time. Then you can’t replace them with foreign players who play the same position, unless you take out another foreigner from a different position and replace him with a local player etc…. That’s complete madness.

But FIFA would need to strike a deal with the EU (and possibly other countries) first anyway.

They aren’t similar sentiments. In fact, I don’t see how Blatter’s idea is racist. Impractical and in violation of EU labor laws, yes, but not racist.

Blatter’s reference to home grown players doesn’t mean that someone has to have roots in a country for several generations, which is what the Lithuanian banner was pretty much implying. What he wants is to make sure that clubs pay attention to their own academies (though his proclamations could be more eloquent and better thought out). This would of course affect the EPL the most since they rely on imported players more than any other league.

FYI, Blatter’s proposal would only help a country like France. Right now, the league can’t compete with the top three because of wage and tax restrictions and so can’t afford to keep their best players, who move abroad. But if those leagues are prevented from loading their rosters with the best French talent, France would be able to keep more of their players, which in turn would make them more competitive. French football itself won’t be affected since many players “funny sounding names” are in fact French citizens.

If teams want to “protect their identity” or whatever by playing local players, fine, that’s their choice. But don’t universally restrict the choices of others in the process.

Break down the barriers and borders, I say.

No, the two are both heinous and while both have large groups of subconsciously-racist people defending these actions time and time again, they both arise from the same general hatred.

Xenophobia and racism, the personal is allowed to foster and be excused under the problems of the systemic institutional racism of systems that don’t have the player’s best interests at heart.

Kick Racism Out Of Football.