FOOTBALL Association technical director Trevor Brooking doubts whether Sepp Blatter's proposal to increase the number of homegrown players in club sides will be successful due to the constraints of European law.
Blatter is keen to have a split of six locally-produced players and five foreign players in each team.
At present, only around 40% of players in the Barclays Premier League are eligible to play for England after the influx of stars from overseas in recent years.
Brooking backs Blatter's desire to encourage the development of domestic talent, but is sceptical over the chances of his motion being implemented.
"In principle, I support what he is saying. It is beneficial. I can see why he wants it to happen, but European law makes it very difficult," Brooking said.
"You have to try to get your own homegrown players through on merit and that is the long-term aim.
"England suffers more than most with the current situation and, like I said, it will not be easy to change it because of European law.
"Of course, you could go with a gentlemen's agreement whereby clubs would only field so many home-grown and so many foreign players.
"But I don't think you will get an agreement with all the clubs because they will think they are then uncompetitive alongside other European countries."
England coach Fabio Capello has already bemoaned the lack of players he has at his disposal and knows a change in the rules will only serve to benefit the three lions in their bid for international honours.
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Brooking's fears seem well founded given the reaction of European Union spokesman John MacDonald earlier today, who stressed FIFA's plan would fall foul of 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."
EU sports commissioner Jan Figel added: "There are good ideas or arguments with pros and cons, and one of the strong arguments against is that it violates EU valid law."
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 'homegrown 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."
Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith, however, 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 homegrown talent than in recent years. The international team is at as good a level as it has been for a quite some time."
At present, only around 40% of players in the Barclays Premier League are eligible to play for England after the influx of stars from overseas in recent years.
Brooking backs Blatter's desire to encourage the development of domestic talent, but is sceptical over the chances of his motion being implemented.
"In principle, I support what he is saying. It is beneficial. I can see why he wants it to happen, but European law makes it very difficult," Brooking said.
"You have to try to get your own homegrown players through on merit and that is the long-term aim.
"England suffers more than most with the current situation and, like I said, it will not be easy to change it because of European law.
"Of course, you could go with a gentlemen's agreement whereby clubs would only field so many home-grown and so many foreign players.
"But I don't think you will get an agreement with all the clubs because they will think they are then uncompetitive alongside other European countries."
England coach Fabio Capello has already bemoaned the lack of players he has at his disposal and knows a change in the rules will only serve to benefit the three lions in their bid for international honours.
mfl
Brooking's fears seem well founded given the reaction of European Union spokesman John MacDonald earlier today, who stressed FIFA's plan would fall foul of 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."
EU sports commissioner Jan Figel added: "There are good ideas or arguments with pros and cons, and one of the strong arguments against is that it violates EU valid law."
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 'homegrown 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."
Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith, however, 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 homegrown talent than in recent years. The international team is at as good a level as it has been for a quite some time."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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