FIFA'S 'six-plus-five rule' would be incompatible with continental law, the European Union has reiterated after Sydney delegates voted to explore the issue further.
The rule would limit the number of foreign players in each club's starting line-up to five and president Sepp Blatter hopes to have it in place by the 2012/13 season.
But EU spokesman John MacDonald stressed it would fall foul of the EU's anti-discrimination legislation and would not stand up in court.
"The 'six plus five rule' of FIFA is simply a rule that is based on grounds of nationality so that is incompatible with community law," he told Sky Sports News.
"If they were to implement the 'six plus five rule' in Europe what would happen is any professional football player who feels aggrieved by the rule would be able to take the football club concerned to court and he would probably win the case."
FIFA have said they want to "explore" the possibilities "within the limits of the law", but while the EU would welcome dialogue, MacDonald does not see a way forward for the plan.
The EU are, however, positive about a proposal from Europe's governing body UEFA that would set a quota for players trained in a particular country but not necessarily of that nationality.
"We have had valuable exchanges with UEFA in the past," MacDonald continued. "FIFA have been less forthcoming with dialogue but we welcome the desire now, that has been expressed by FIFA, to come and talk about these issues.
"In a study we did of the home-grown players' rule, we're of the opinion - on the basis of current evidence - that in fact that rule neatly side-steps the problem of direct discrimination, which is against community law, and can be considered to be compatible with community law.
"Any indirect discrimination is justified by the aims, which are to bring balance to the game through encouraging the development of young football talent."
Former England manager Steve McClaren believes legislation is the wrong way to address the problems in the domestic and international game.
McClaren oversaw England's failed bid to qualify for Euro 2008, and the diminishing number of English players in the Premier League was widely believed to have contributed to that failure.
He said: "People are trying to change (the percentage of English players) through legislation, through quotas.
"I can see that concept but the main one I'm concerned about is improving our players and improving our coaches because if you do that you've got a long-term plan.
"At present we haven't got any British coaches working abroad and that's where you get your education.
"We've imported it in, through players first and managers and coaches after that and eventually, if we're not too careful, we're going to produce a Premier League full of foreign coaches, foreign owners, then where do British coaches come through and manage?"
mfl
Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor believes FIFA's proposal is "tilting at windmills" and believes a balance must be struck between their 'six-plus-five' idea and UEFA's 'homegrown players' scheme, which has already secured politicians' backing.
UEFA defines '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 player conditions based on nationality.
Taylor believes that idea is more sensible and would like to see that strengthened, admitting it is currently "weak as water".
The players' union chief told PA Sport: "I just feel with the the proposal, it is tilting at windmills in the shape of the European Commission because the law will not allow it.
"That is why I feel that rather than do that as a gesture that may not succeed, there is a much more realistic chance of success in encouraging youth development if they look towards strengthening the already-accepted ruling of UEFA, which albeit is eight out of 25 in a squad as long as they have been developed by a club or country for three years between the ages of 15 and 21.
"That is too weak because it is just in a squad, but if it was then revised to be on the field of play, all clubs would be abiding by the same rules and it would be an encouragement of youth development irrespective of nationality."
Taylor added: "Whilst people say 'they will just bring over youngsters from abroad' they may well do that, but at least they would all have to prioritise youth development.
"With the 'eight out of 25', the European Commission cannot reject that, it is so obviously an encouragement of youth development.
"But it is not enough, it should be talking about a limited number on the field of play because as it stands, it is weak as water.
"It is a case of finding a balance between that, which is too diluted, and FIFA's, which has no chance because of European Commission law.
"We might as well start dealing with reality, and what is achievable."
EU sports commissioner Jan Figel revealed proposed sports legislation could be considered as a special case - but only if it is non-discriminatory.
"What we promote - and what we want to further increase - is specificity, which is not the same as exclusivity of sport," he told Sky Sports News.
"Specificity means what is not business as usual. Therefore we need, on a case-by-case basis, to look into relevant issues, problems or questions and we are ready to do that.
"Specificity not exclusivity is my message to FIFA, UEFA and other partners, and we will even more strongly be able to use specificity of sport because in the new treaty there is a sport article included for the first time which mentions specificity of sport being taken into account."
Figel singled out the case of Jean-Marc Bosman in 1995, which ensured freedom of movement for footballers, to illustrate sport cannot operate outside EU laws.
"There are good ideas or arguments with pros and cons, and one of the strong arguments against is that it violates EU valid law," added Figel, who plans to speak to Blatter.
"We have in the past combined actions or rules that are non-discriminatory but also fruitful for corporations, for training, for protection of minors, for promotion of sport values, participation in sport starting from early life and lifelong.
"I'm certain together we can find more answers by corporation dialogue, openness, transparency. These are very important principles for all around the table."
(reopens)
Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni believes the proposal could have major implications for international teams.
Trapattoni has spent the last fortnight working with a squad of players who all ply their trades outside Ireland, and admits the rule change would have a significant effect.
He said: "Many Ireland players play in England.
"In Italy, we have teams with 10 foreign players and the national team had a problem. We had a problem in the past.
"Now it is [UEFA president Michel] Platini, before it was Blatter. We have asked that question many times because the country needs the young to grow.
"We have many players playing in England, but I think for Ireland, it is not a big problem."
The Football Association of Ireland have confirmed they are monitoring the situation.
A spokesman said: "Congress have mandated FIFA today to explore the Blatter proposal.
"We have a meeting with the EU in June and we will see what comes out of that.
"But at the moment, we would support the Uefa position in that matter."
(reopens)
Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith believes FIFA's plans would benefit the game.
"I wouldn't say we welcome it wholly, but we see it would help the national team," Smith told BBC Sport.
"I would hope clubs see it's a rule for the betterment of the game in general.
"The difficulty will be in some of the countries where they import a lot of foreign players.
"I think in Scotland the trend is that we are developing more home-grown talent than in recent years. The international team is at as good a level as it has been for a quite some time."
The former Rangers and Brighton striker, who also played in Austria and Switzerland, added: "I'm not against foreign players - I was one myself in three different countries - so I'm all for people moving about.
"But I think a restriction might help to a degree."
ends
But EU spokesman John MacDonald stressed it would fall foul of the EU's anti-discrimination legislation and would not stand up in court.
"The 'six plus five rule' of FIFA is simply a rule that is based on grounds of nationality so that is incompatible with community law," he told Sky Sports News.
"If they were to implement the 'six plus five rule' in Europe what would happen is any professional football player who feels aggrieved by the rule would be able to take the football club concerned to court and he would probably win the case."
FIFA have said they want to "explore" the possibilities "within the limits of the law", but while the EU would welcome dialogue, MacDonald does not see a way forward for the plan.
The EU are, however, positive about a proposal from Europe's governing body UEFA that would set a quota for players trained in a particular country but not necessarily of that nationality.
"We have had valuable exchanges with UEFA in the past," MacDonald continued. "FIFA have been less forthcoming with dialogue but we welcome the desire now, that has been expressed by FIFA, to come and talk about these issues.
"In a study we did of the home-grown players' rule, we're of the opinion - on the basis of current evidence - that in fact that rule neatly side-steps the problem of direct discrimination, which is against community law, and can be considered to be compatible with community law.
"Any indirect discrimination is justified by the aims, which are to bring balance to the game through encouraging the development of young football talent."
Former England manager Steve McClaren believes legislation is the wrong way to address the problems in the domestic and international game.
McClaren oversaw England's failed bid to qualify for Euro 2008, and the diminishing number of English players in the Premier League was widely believed to have contributed to that failure.
He said: "People are trying to change (the percentage of English players) through legislation, through quotas.
"I can see that concept but the main one I'm concerned about is improving our players and improving our coaches because if you do that you've got a long-term plan.
"At present we haven't got any British coaches working abroad and that's where you get your education.
"We've imported it in, through players first and managers and coaches after that and eventually, if we're not too careful, we're going to produce a Premier League full of foreign coaches, foreign owners, then where do British coaches come through and manage?"
mfl
Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor believes FIFA's proposal is "tilting at windmills" and believes a balance must be struck between their 'six-plus-five' idea and UEFA's 'homegrown players' scheme, which has already secured politicians' backing.
UEFA defines '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 player conditions based on nationality.
Taylor believes that idea is more sensible and would like to see that strengthened, admitting it is currently "weak as water".
The players' union chief told PA Sport: "I just feel with the the proposal, it is tilting at windmills in the shape of the European Commission because the law will not allow it.
"That is why I feel that rather than do that as a gesture that may not succeed, there is a much more realistic chance of success in encouraging youth development if they look towards strengthening the already-accepted ruling of UEFA, which albeit is eight out of 25 in a squad as long as they have been developed by a club or country for three years between the ages of 15 and 21.
"That is too weak because it is just in a squad, but if it was then revised to be on the field of play, all clubs would be abiding by the same rules and it would be an encouragement of youth development irrespective of nationality."
Taylor added: "Whilst people say 'they will just bring over youngsters from abroad' they may well do that, but at least they would all have to prioritise youth development.
"With the 'eight out of 25', the European Commission cannot reject that, it is so obviously an encouragement of youth development.
"But it is not enough, it should be talking about a limited number on the field of play because as it stands, it is weak as water.
"It is a case of finding a balance between that, which is too diluted, and FIFA's, which has no chance because of European Commission law.
"We might as well start dealing with reality, and what is achievable."
EU sports commissioner Jan Figel revealed proposed sports legislation could be considered as a special case - but only if it is non-discriminatory.
"What we promote - and what we want to further increase - is specificity, which is not the same as exclusivity of sport," he told Sky Sports News.
"Specificity means what is not business as usual. Therefore we need, on a case-by-case basis, to look into relevant issues, problems or questions and we are ready to do that.
"Specificity not exclusivity is my message to FIFA, UEFA and other partners, and we will even more strongly be able to use specificity of sport because in the new treaty there is a sport article included for the first time which mentions specificity of sport being taken into account."
Figel singled out the case of Jean-Marc Bosman in 1995, which ensured freedom of movement for footballers, to illustrate sport cannot operate outside EU laws.
"There are good ideas or arguments with pros and cons, and one of the strong arguments against is that it violates EU valid law," added Figel, who plans to speak to Blatter.
"We have in the past combined actions or rules that are non-discriminatory but also fruitful for corporations, for training, for protection of minors, for promotion of sport values, participation in sport starting from early life and lifelong.
"I'm certain together we can find more answers by corporation dialogue, openness, transparency. These are very important principles for all around the table."
(reopens)
Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni believes the proposal could have major implications for international teams.
Trapattoni has spent the last fortnight working with a squad of players who all ply their trades outside Ireland, and admits the rule change would have a significant effect.
He said: "Many Ireland players play in England.
"In Italy, we have teams with 10 foreign players and the national team had a problem. We had a problem in the past.
"Now it is [UEFA president Michel] Platini, before it was Blatter. We have asked that question many times because the country needs the young to grow.
"We have many players playing in England, but I think for Ireland, it is not a big problem."
The Football Association of Ireland have confirmed they are monitoring the situation.
A spokesman said: "Congress have mandated FIFA today to explore the Blatter proposal.
"We have a meeting with the EU in June and we will see what comes out of that.
"But at the moment, we would support the Uefa position in that matter."
(reopens)
Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith believes FIFA's plans would benefit the game.
"I wouldn't say we welcome it wholly, but we see it would help the national team," Smith told BBC Sport.
"I would hope clubs see it's a rule for the betterment of the game in general.
"The difficulty will be in some of the countries where they import a lot of foreign players.
"I think in Scotland the trend is that we are developing more home-grown talent than in recent years. The international team is at as good a level as it has been for a quite some time."
The former Rangers and Brighton striker, who also played in Austria and Switzerland, added: "I'm not against foreign players - I was one myself in three different countries - so I'm all for people moving about.
"But I think a restriction might help to a degree."
ends
Copyright (c) Press Association
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