It is not often, being a fan of the “other” North London club, that I agree with what comes out of Arsene Wenger’s mouth. Yet, with reference to FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s proposal of a quota of six home-grown players to be fielded in each team in domestic leagues, the Frenchman has got it spot on.
“Elite sport is first about quality” he mused back in 2006 when the quota plan first reared its ugly head, “first football bodies have to care about protecting the level of the game – that does not mean protecting mediocrity”.
Is he perhaps suggesting that foreign players are the reason the Premier League has become, as the tabloids boast, the “best league in the world”? It is a big claim, especially form someone who fielded just one Englishman regularly this season, but nonetheless it is hard to deny his logic.
The failure of the England national team has led to a mild xenophobia by fans and top football officials alike. While drowning the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres in praise and hoping that other foreign talents join them, it seems when England falter in qualifying campaigns, the knives are suddenly out for the foreigners that ply their trade in “our” domestic league. As if it is their fault England are a perennial disappointment.
So far, the British media’s debate surrounding FIFA’s proposal has been Anglo-centric, focusing on the English national team and the Premiership, but it is difficult to envisage the benefits even for nations with weaker national leagues, who rely on exporting their talent to gain indispensable experience. Teams like Greece and Croatia, would hardly be able to challenge football’s dominant elite had a large proportion of their players been forced to play in their relatively unknown national leagues.
Arguably, the key to international success lies in the ability to field players with a broad range of experience of other leagues. Top Euro 2008 contenders Germany, France, Spain and Portugal all have key players that play outside their national leagues and this can only beneift them.
In comparison, none of the current England squad, with the exception of one, play outside the Premiership, let alone England. If English players do not play against players of other nationalities, styles and abilities how are they to be competitive in international competitions?
Further to this, as Wenger said, there should be no sacrifice of quality at the top level of sport. BBC research which shows that the Premiership has seen a decrease in the number of English players starting league games is perhaps more indicative of the lack of development at a grass roots level. This, though, is a responsibility of a national governing body, not FIFA or UEFA.
The 6+5 quota has a few obstacles to overcome before it can be realised. The main problem is a legal one, as any quota would be in breach of EU legislation concerning the free movement of persons and labour. To deny a foreign player the chance of employment because of nationality is discrimination and should be treated as such whether or not it would benefit national teams.
Blatter has also faced high profile objections to his proposal from both UEFA president Michel Platini and the Premier League, who stated in a press release: “we must raise standards, not implement something that would create a broader pool of average players rather than a deeper one of the right level of talent”.
Hopefully FIFA will consider this before attempting to force through such an unnecessary and ill-conceived reform.
