Fergie support for Blatter stance on imports

[Le King]

Sir Alex Ferguson believes clubs should be seen to have 'a proportion of home-based players' - and feels rivals Arsenal would 'protest the loudest' at such a rule.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has announced he will lobby for restrictions on the number of foreign players in each team and Ferguson has voiced his support.

'It's certainly not wrong that clubs should be seen to have a proportion of home-based players,' the Manchester United manager said.

'I totally agree (with Blatter) but it would be a problem for a club like Arsenal. That's why they'll protest the loudest.

'You want to protect your own, and there is nothing wrong with that. But, for the good of the game in England, it would be good to see more home-based players at the top clubs.

'United's critics would say `It's all right for you, you already have English players in your side'. But I think if you asked a neutral, they would rather see more home-based players.'

He added: 'Under the present Treaty of Rome you couldn't make it law. It would have to be an agreement between the clubs. But if it went to a vote, I think it would get through [even though] there would be opposition from clubs like Liverpool and Arsenal, who have strong Spanish and French connections.

'It would certainly be a contentious issue but I agree with the principle of it.'

In an interview in the club magazine, Inside United, Ferguson also called for agents to be more strictly regulated to prevent money flowing out of the game.

'I think we need a tariff for agents that brings them in line with other professions, like lawyers or accountants,' he added.

'Agents need to be regulated in a far stricter way than they have been in the past.

'They are a very lucky breed because as long as you have greedy club presidents, agents will always be in the driving seat. But if world football recognises the need for regulation, that would make a real difference.

'The set up has to be more professional.'

Wenger has also expressed his views on the topic in Arsenal's club magazine, and feels no coach 'at the highest level' would think it is a good idea.

'I find the whole proposal completely ridiculous,' he said.

'The thinking behind it, I believe, is to protect the national teams. But it won't protect the best players, it will protect the mediocre ones and you don't win a World Cup with mediocre players, you win it with world-class ones.

'The best English players - the Rooneys, the Owens, the Gerrards, the Lampards - they are all playing for their clubs anyway.

'FIFA are wrong if they think this will improve international football. Look at rugby for example. The Argentina national team - all their players play in Europe, and the national team takes advantage of that. Had they all stayed in Argentina, would they have made the semi-finals? To mix the best with the best makes everyone better.

'I am worried that it could happen. I would say that it's more than 50% likely to be brought in.

'FIFA is powerful enough to implement the rule internally, if (Sepp) Blatter has the support of the council and his committees. Will it go through or not, I do not know but it looks as though it could. I have already had many discussions at UEFA and it looks as though it could happen.

'I don't believe one football coach at the highest level would say it's a good idea. A football coach is always confronted with the same problem - he wants to reward good players.'

Asked what would happen if the rule was introduced, Wenger added: 'First of all we have to fight against it.

'If you fight it that should buy us some time. During that time you have to adapt to it.'

The Gunners boss fears the issue could prove divisive and refused to rule out clubs splitting from FIFA.

'Maybe, I don't know what the evolution will be,' he added. 'I always think that it's the strength of the sport if it's unified at the top level and you do not have a split.

'Because then the rules can begin to change and before you know it you have different sports. So that is dangerous too. If the football bodies don't take care of the sport that could happen and that's a real danger.'



So so true, sumfin should b done... england should all b in favour of it othawise none of the top clubs will have quality englishy players and there national team will b shit(not that its not now)

[Translator]

So so true, sumfin should b done... england should all b in favour of it othawise none of the top clubs will have quality englishy players and there national team will b cabernet(not that its not now)

I reckon you've got more chance of seeing an alien than a quality English player

[Ray Parlour]

lol this just proves how much ferguson has his head shoved sooooooo far up his anas...


fkn he can afford to make comments like this cos he has had the cash to buy quality english in recent times.....all well and good for him to look at the english in his squad...but lets look at how much some of them cost, which only man utd could afford..(this is rough, correct me if im wrong)

Ferdinand - 28 mill pounds
Rooney - 25 mill
Hargreaves - 26 mill

[Le King]

lol this just proves how much ferguson has his head shoved sooooooo far up his anas...


shiraz he can afford to make comments like this cos he has had the cash to buy quality english in recent times.....all well and good for him to look at the english in his squad...but lets look at how much some of them cost, which only man utd could afford..(this is rough, correct me if im wrong)

Ferdinand - 28 mill pounds
Rooney - 25 mill
Hargreaves - 26 mill

and?????

look at teams like spurs, westham, us and liverpool who have produced quality players without spendin cash cause they have come through the ranks????

[Ray Parlour]

and their managers arent being pri**s about it, its been years since ferguson has produced quality english, and that was back in the days when football was different..

he can make comments like this re cos he can afford to..

arsenal have had to go down wengers path to afford the stadium..

and wenger has said the quality in the english youth system is not up to scratch, but people will see in 10 years arsenal will have plenty of english talent on the pitch they have brought through their new youth setup...

for now, blatter and fergie and platini should keep it shut...

ps fergie is just upset about blowing his lead two seasons in a row a the emirates!

[pires7]

If this rule goes through then the French league will start to rip it up! Most of the world best players hail from there anyway
Imagine putting
viera, henry, saha, pires, sanga, clichy, flamini, evra, thuram, ribery, malouda, anelka, mexes, gallas, govou, sangol, silvestre, pique and makelele + other good payers back in the french league! Four of each of those to a few teams and the league would be awesome!

[Le King]

and their managers arent being pri**s about it, its been years since ferguson has produced quality english, and that was back in the days when football was different..

he can make comments like this re cos he can afford to..

arsenal have had to go down wengers path to afford the stadium..

and wenger has said the quality in the english youth system is not up to scratch, but people will see in 10 years arsenal will have plenty of english talent on the pitch they have brought through their new youth setup...

for now, blatter and fergie and platini should keep it shut...

ps fergie is just upset about blowing his lead two seasons in a row a the emirates!

im sure its not hard 2 scout a young english player with talent and potential and turn him into a very gd player!!! if wenger is so gd at spottin talent y doesnt he do that then?

yeh he is, wouldnt u b with 10 mins 2 go... but still we drew with u blokes at ur home grown and we wernt even playin gd cause u blokes dominated the posession and shots

[gunther]

If this rule goes through then the French league will start to rip it up! Most of the world best players hail from there anyway
Imagine putting
viera, henry, saha, pires, sanga, clichy, flamini, evra, thuram, ribery, malouda, anelka, mexes, gallas, govou, sangol, silvestre, pique and makelele + other good payers back in the french league! Four of each of those to a few teams and the league would be awesome!

must be from le barelona?

[pires7]

yeah he is spanish

More to the point England wont have this many quality players for 5 years minimum! All these players are class and it all to do with the world renowned French football philosphy
'Youth development to world champions'
and stealing players from other countries :?

[BAGGIO 15]

This is a great debate. Domesticly the federations have to look after their own. FIFA have to look after their stake holders which are the federations so it is in the best interest of the domestic federations that they can develope players off quality in an enviroment that has clear opportunity. Arsenal fans pay their $$$ and it goes to France in most case's. Just look at the differance when Wenger came in to the teams before him. They had a majority of English players and still won 3 championships. Now they are winning without Englishman in the side.
Wenger is a great coach, but he'd be a better coach if he could change the development system to produce English players. The Arsenal youth team have almost no English players in it at all.

[diegom]

Wenger does not give a stuff about developing the youth in england. Thats fine, he can have his "Les Blues 2", but if the policy does see the light of day - it will be interesting to see how the ARSEne copes with it???
Maybe a return to france to coach his players is on the cards??
I said it all along, EPL teams should have at least 4-5 players in their squads on matchday!
Not the 1 like walcott on the subs bench!
This applies to Inter as well and other teams in their respective leagues.

[nachoman]

and punters cried foul when chelsea had too many foreigners years ago

le arsenele do it , buts its ok because you actually won something, turning a blind eye to the problem

[BAGGIO 15]

Many on here don't like they way Chelsea won, or any side for that matter that has no domestic players in it.

[Hawkesy]

Well it's taken 21 years and 1 day but finally it's happened. fergie has said something I agree with.

The clubs at the top have a duty to keep the game in the highest regards at the grass roots level. 2 foreigners per club would be fantastic. I would be very intrigued as to how they would police this at the English clubs level. Technically the UK is 1 country, but we have very seperate identities, FA's and international sides. eg. don't call me scottish, welsh or irish or even British. I'M ENGLISH!!!

[Hawkesy]

I reckon you've got more chance of seeing an alien than a quality English player

How many English players made it into the nominations for the FIFA player of the year.

from memory:

Terry
Lampard
Gerrard
Rooney

I would suggest to make that shortlist you have to be "quality". So I'm off to look for aliens!!

[Missing Post Count]

Well it's taken 21 years and 1 day but finally it's happened. fergie has said something I agree with.

The clubs at the top have a duty to keep the game in the highest regards at the grass roots level. 2 foreigners per club would be fantastic. I would be very intrigued as to how they would police this at the English clubs level. Technically the UK is 1 country, but we have very seperate identities, FA's and international sides. eg. don't call me scottish, welsh or irish or even British. I'M ENGLISH!!!

Then you get the odd player who is English raised suddenly get a call up from Ireland or another home nation based on grandparents' birth or something... does he then get classed as a foreigner from that point on. In theory it's a good idea, but like you say almost impossible to police.

[Le King]

but atleast chelsea have englishmen like j.cole, a.cole, lampard and swp!!!

[Hawkesy]

Then you get the odd player who is English raised suddenly get a call up from Ireland or another home nation based on grandparents' birth or something... does he then get classed as a foreigner from that point on. In theory it's a good idea, but like you say almost impossible to police.

What happens with dual nationality? My kids have aussie and English passports.

I would say if you represent another country then you cannot represent your club as a home player. Clubs will bring in contracts (like the one that Andrew Symonds broke while playing for Kent, in the cricket) that ensure that they will not play for any other contract other than England.

[nachoman]

Many on here don't like they way Chelsea won, or any side for that matter that has no domestic players in it.

they won the two recent titles with a 3 england internationals ?
Cole, terry and lampard

[delfino_1936]

lol this just proves how much ferguson has his head shoved sooooooo far up his anas...


shiraz he can afford to make comments like this cos he has had the cash to buy quality english in recent times.....all well and good for him to look at the english in his squad...but lets look at how much some of them cost, which only man utd could afford..(this is rough, correct me if im wrong)

Ferdinand - 28 mill pounds
Rooney - 25 mill
Hargreaves - 26 mill

spot on about that, we don't have many englishman because of the price tags that have been placed on their foreheads. Why would a title chasing side, but a mediocre englishman for 15 mill pounds when he can buy a quality foreigners for half the price. exactly what Wenger said

But it won't protect the best players, it will protect the mediocre ones and you don't win a World Cup with mediocre players, you win it with world-class ones.

[diegom]

A Champion team will ALWAYS beat a team of Champions!


If FIFA passes the law, then teams will have to manage a team of local as well as foeirn players.
So asssssnal is stuffed!

Also, When has assssssnal last won the UCL??????
And ur comment about mediocre players winning world cups??? I though we are talking about Claub teams!!!!!

[delfino_1936]

A Champion team will ALWAYS beat a team of Champions!


If FIFA passes the law, then teams will have to manage a team of local as well as foeirn players.
So asssssnal is stuffed!

Also, When has assssssnal last won the UCL??????
And ur comment about mediocre players winning world cups??? I though we are talking about Claub teams!!!!!

Arsenal have been the 2nd most successful team in the Premiership since 1992 thanks to quality bought in by Mr. Wenger.

World Cup winners like Gilberto, Henry, Vieira, Petit etc that played for us.

that's what he is saying, players like that won't be able to play in the top leagues cause of the new law.

the mediocre players he is talking about are the English ones that will be protected by the law

[diegom]

A Champion team will ALWAYS beat a team of Champions!


If FIFA passes the law, then teams will have to manage a team of local as well as foeirn players.
So asssssnal is stuffed!

Also, When has assssssnal last won the UCL??????
And ur comment about mediocre players winning world cups??? I though we are talking about Claub teams!!!!!

Arsenal have been the 2nd most successful team in the Premiership since 1992 thanks to quality bought in by Mr. Wenger.

World Cup winners like Gilberto, Henry, Vieira, Petit etc that played for us.

that's what he is saying, players like that won't be able to play in the top leagues cause of the new law.

the mediocre players he is talking about are the English ones that will be protected by the law

Tough TITTIES
Then they can go back to france and play in their local comp!

And since 1992, the English National Team is getting worse and worse because of the likes of Arsene!

[Hawkesy]

And since 1992, the English National Team is getting worse and worse because of the likes of Arsene!

Don't agree with that.

1994 Didn't qualify for the WC
96 semi finals of euro losing on pens
98 QF penalties loss to argentina (playing with 10 men)
00 an absymal euro's culminating in phil nevilles being not fit to play sunday football
02 QF loss to a freak ronaldinho goal
04 Penalties loss to portugal
06 penalties loss to portugal (playing with 10 men)

I don't see us getting worse and worse since 1992. :?

[delfino_1936]

A Champion team will ALWAYS beat a team of Champions!


If FIFA passes the law, then teams will have to manage a team of local as well as foeirn players.
So asssssnal is stuffed!

Also, When has assssssnal last won the UCL??????
And ur comment about mediocre players winning world cups??? I though we are talking about Claub teams!!!!!

Arsenal have been the 2nd most successful team in the Premiership since 1992 thanks to quality bought in by Mr. Wenger.

World Cup winners like Gilberto, Henry, Vieira, Petit etc that played for us.

that's what he is saying, players like that won't be able to play in the top leagues cause of the new law.

the mediocre players he is talking about are the English ones that will be protected by the law

Tough TITTIES
Then they can go back to france and play in their local comp!

And since 1992, the English National Team is getting worse and worse because of the likes of Arsene!

yeh and most of the other clubs that have bought in imports. Just hurts ya to admit that Arsene has played it very smart since coming in. He hasn't spent near billions of pounds like Fergie, Mourinho and Benitez, yet he is more successful than the 2 latter names.

[BAGGIO 15]

Many on here don't like they way Chelsea won, or any side for that matter that has no domestic players in it.

they won the two recent titles with a 3 england internationals ?
Cole, terry and lampard

It's the quantity of imports not the sprinkling of what should make up the largest quota.
That comment is a cope out. 27% of the starting lineup and 21% of the 14 used in any one game. Thats something any English Chelsea fan would be proud of.

[Juventino]

And since 1992, the English National Team is getting worse and worse because of the likes of Arsene!

Don't agree with that.

1994 Didn't qualify for the WC
96 semi finals of euro losing on pens
98 QF penalties loss to argentina (playing with 10 men)
00 an absymal euro's culminating in phil nevilles being not fit to play sunday football
02 QF loss to a freak ronaldinho goal
04 Penalties loss to portugal
06 penalties loss to portugal (playing with 10 men)

I don't see us getting worse and worse since 1992. :?

98 was a second round loss.

And if you are to mention English red cards as a disadvantage, yet not mention you had a man advantage for over 30 mins vs Brazil in 02?

But in any case, it is not as if 10 men cannot win and it seems like you are blaming those losses on having 10 men.

[nachoman]

Many on here don't like they way Chelsea won, or any side for that matter that has no domestic players in it.

they won the two recent titles with a 3 england internationals ?
Cole, terry and lampard

It's the quantity of imports not the sprinkling of what should make up the largest quota.
That comment is a cope out. 27% of the starting lineup and 21% of the 14 used in any one game. Thats something any English Chelsea fan would be proud of.

so are you saying its ok for le arsenele then ?
those three players i mentioned are the standouts, but then chelsea also have swp and the other cole.
They tried with scott parker and it didnt work - fair enuff - at least they tried

[BAGGIO 15]

Many on here don't like they way Chelsea won, or any side for that matter that has no domestic players in it.

they won the two recent titles with a 3 england internationals ?
Cole, terry and lampard

It's the quantity of imports not the sprinkling of what should make up the largest quota.
That comment is a cope out. 27% of the starting lineup and 21% of the 14 used in any one game. Thats something any English Chelsea fan would be proud of.

so are you saying its ok for le arsenele then ?
those three players i mentioned are the standouts, but then chelsea also have swp and the other cole.
They tried with scott parker and it didnt work - fair enuff - at least they tried

Credit to them for trying, Arsenal and Inter are the 2 reasons this debate has come to attention. I think it's disgusting. That said, they are doing it within the rules, I think this is on the head of the powers that be as they are using basic work rules and encompassing Football in the same category. It's clearly different as it impacts on International football.

[Hawkesy]

98 was a second round loss.

And if you are to mention English red cards as a disadvantage, yet not mention you had a man advantage for over 30 mins vs Brazil in 02?

But in any case, it is not as if 10 men cannot win and it seems like you are blaming those losses on having 10 men.

I didn't mention it because to be honest I have no recollection of the sending off. Who? and for what?

also not saying that 10 men cannot win but it's certainly a disadvantage.