6+5 rule

The 6+5 rule is a football rule adopted by FIFA during a meeting in May 2008.

Definition

At the beginning of each match, each club must field at least 6 players eligible to play for the national team of the country of the club. However, there is no restriction on the number of non-eligible players under contract with the club, nor on substitutes to avoid non-sportive constraints on the coaches (potentially 3+8 at the end of a match).

Explanation

The 6+5 rule in club football has been accepted as a resolution by FIFA at its meeting in Sydney on 29 and 30 May 2008. The objective of this rule is to restore the national identity of football clubs who have increasingly resorted to fielding foreign players in their squad. It is also intended to reduce the increasing gap between the big and small football clubs.

Background of 6+5

#The foundations of football are harmony and balance between national team football and club football.
#The clubs' loss of national identity is endangering the former and has led to increasing inequality among the latter,thereby widening the financial and sporting gap between the two, reducing the competitiveness of club competitions and increasing the predictability of their results.
#Safeguarding
##the education and training of young players,
##training clubs, and
##the values of effort and motivation in football, particularly for young players, is a fundamental element of protecting national teams and restoring sporting and financial balance to club football.
#The universal development of football over the last century would not continue if there were increasing inequalities between continents, countries and protagonists in football.

Resolution adopted by the FIFA Congress

The FIFA Congress, at its meeting in Sydney on 29 and 30 May 2008, decided to:
#fully support the objectives of "6+5 " as laid down at the above Congress,
#request the Presidents of FIFA and UEFA to continue to explore for Europe, together with the world of sport - football's protagonists, but also the international Olympic Committee and the international federations - all possible means within the limits of the law to ensure that these crucial sporting objectives be achieved,
#give the FIFA President the mandate to, if necessary, take similar steps on the other continents in cooperation with the relevant Confederation.

Calendar of 6+5

The objective is to have an incremental implementation starting at the beginning of the 2010-2011 season to give clubs time to adjust their teams over a period of several years:
#4+7 for 2010-2011
#5+6 for 2011-2012
#6+5 for 2012-2013

Rejection by European Union

The 6+5 rule has on numerous occasion been described as illegal by the European Union and was rejected by the European Parliament on May 9 [cite web
url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/blow-for-blatter-as-eu-rejects-65-plan-to-limit-foreign-players-824091.html
title=Blow for Blatter as EU rejects '6+5' plan to limit foreign players
last=Ennis
first=Darren
publisher=The Independent
date=8 May 2008
accessdate=2008-08-11] The rule violates both Article 39 of the EC Treaty and the Bosman ruling [cite web
url=http://www.e-comlaw.com/sportslawblog/template_permalink.asp?id=99
title=FIFA's 6+5 Proposal
last=Lynam
first=Ian
date=6 Dec 2006
publisher=worldsportlawreport
accessdate=2008-08-11] . FIFA President Sepp Blatter was meeting with representatives of European football leagues to explain the new Rule and to garner support for it as recently as 22 July 2008 [cite web
url=http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/federation/releases/newsid=830914.html?cid=rssfeed&att=
title=FIFA and EPFL meeting regarding 6+5
publisher=FIFA.com
date=22 July 2008
accessdate=2008-08-11] .

References

Bibliography

* [http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/federation/bodies/media/newsid=783657.html#fifa+congress+supports+objectives FIFA]