6 + 5 = Good for Australia, says Lowy

Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy believes limiting the number of foreign players in European clubs will help accelerate the growth of football in Australia.

At today’s FIFA Congress in Sydney, world football’s governing body voted to further explore the controversial “6+5″ laws, which would limit the number of foreign players allowed to start any club match to five.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has long been trumpeting the proposal, which he believes will help curb inequality in club competitions, prevent clubs from losing national identity and motivate clubs to train and educate young players.

Lowy agreed to the point that he voluntarily addressed the Congress, urging Blatter to pursue the laws until they are implemented.

“We have a problem that we are losing lots of players,” Lowy said.

“These young boys (aged) between 18-20 go to these countries, get nowhere, get disappointed and they lose football.

“We know that we are a growing football nation and we need all the players that we can.

“I think as far as Australia is concerned, (the implementation of these laws) is important, it’s essential … and a very, very important aspect for the development of football.”

The laws cannot be implemented yet because they contravene European law.

But the Congress today passed with a 97 per cent majority a decision which will see Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini explore for Europe “all possible means within the limits of the law to ensure that these crucial sporting objectives are achieved”.

The proposal is also likely to meet fierce opposition from clubs in Europe, particularly in leagues such as the English Premier League, where some squads are almost entirely comprised of foreign players.

England Football Association chief executive Brian Barwick said he could understand the general principal of further exploration but remained unconvinced the laws would be effective in practice.

“We’re still great believers in the meritocracy that players should be in the team on performance and on ability first and foremost,” Barwick said, pointing out that Manchester United won this year’s Champions League final with six English players in their starting side.

Blatter hopes to introduce the quota from 2010 with a minimum of four home players, going up to five in 2011 and the full six by 2012.

Also at today’s Congress, FIFA ratified the World Anti-Doping Agency’s revised drug code, with Australian president of WADA John Fahey signing the agreement with Blatter after it was adopted by a margin of 175 to 1.

“The commitment of FIFA has been strong and I believe will be even stronger in the days ahead,” Fahey told the Congress.

FIFA also approved changes to laws covering players’ eligibility to play for representative teams and the principle of promotion and relegation, to ensure teams can only be promoted on the basis of their sporting achievements and not for monetary reasons.