Govering bodies keen to limit overseas quota

FIFA and UEFA are making fresh efforts for a new system to limit the number of foreign players imported into domestic football.

The two bodies are drawing up proposals to put to the European Commission which would build on the decision by Brussels in June to grant football special employment status for transfers.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has instructed the world body's Player Status Committee, which meets next Thursday, to look at the possibility of ruling that at least six of the 11 players on any team be eligible for the national side of the league they are playing in.

Meanwhile European body UEFA have already held preliminary talks with the EC suggesting a plan which would make clubs include in their first-team squads a percentage of players - of any nationality - from their youth systems.

If either scheme comes to fruition it would have dramatic effects on Premiership clubs such as Chelsea, who have in the past fielded a complete team of foreigners.

FIFA communications director Markus Siegler said: "One idea is that six players on a team should at all times be eligible for the national team, in order to protect the young players in all countries.

"It would be good for football and we are fully in line with UEFA. It will form part of the negotiations and discussions with the political authorities in Europe."

UEFA communications director Mike Lee insisted the EC would be unwilling to make any ruling on nationality as it could be challenged in court following the Bosman ruling.

He said: "If you try to base this purely on nationality it will fail and we have suggested an idea where a certain number of players developed through a club's youth system must be part of their first-team squad."

"We have taken the lead in this and have had initial discussions with the EC about this. There has been some sympathetic reaction from them and an indication that it is worth exploring further."