European soccer members to abstain if FIFA holds vote on player quota issue

FIFA plans for quota rule could face tough road

NASSAU, Bahamas — European soccer officials will abstain if a vote is taken by the sport’s worldwide body this week to restrict teams to a maximum of five foreign players in starting lineups.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter backs the plan, which is supported by many of his organization’s members and could drastically change the makeup of many of the world’s best-known clubs, such as ones in the English Premier League.

The European Union, however, insists such a rule discriminates on the grounds of nationality. And that disagreement could easily put members of Europe’s soccer federation in a delicate spot if a vote is called during FIFA’s annual meeting Wednesday.

“I am in the middle,” said UEFA president Michel Platini, a former star midfielder for France’s national team and the Italian club Juventus. “I always play in the middle.”

UEFA members support certain parts of the so-called 6+5 plan, but decided Monday at its own meeting that its members shouldn’t vote on the matter until the legal questions are answered. That’s a process with no end in sight.

“We can only do it when it’s legal,” Belgian federation president Francois De Keersmaecker said.

The EU favors UEFA’s “homegrown” proposal that would require clubs to carry a quota of players on their roster who were trained in that country, regardless of nationality.

International volleyball officials recently considered a similar plan, only to eventually decide that such a rule could be challenged by lawmakers as an illegal restriction of workers’ rights.

“We agreed with the objectives last year of the 6+5, but … we have to know if it’s legal or illegal,” Platini said.

The player quota issue is one of many FIFA will discuss Wednesday, along with changing the maximum age of Olympic soccer players from 23 to 21, stadium security and anti-doping initiatives.

FIFA’s annual meeting has a ceremonial opening Tuesday evening.