The European Union's 27 sport ministers signed a joint declaration here Friday calling on the European Commission to study the compatibility of the controversial ‘6+5' proposal with European law. According to French Sports Minister Bernard Laporte, the ministers have requested the EU “studies the compatibility of a minimum requirement to field players eligible for the national team with European law”. The ‘6+5' rule, which is not yet in force but has the support of FIFA chief Sepp Blatter, would force European club teams to name a minimum of six home-grown players in their starting XIs. Despite Blatter's backing, the rule would appear to contravene European employment law regarding the free movement of workers. The sport ministers also reached an agreement to create a consultancy framework related to sporting activity within the EU and a plan for sport training programs incorporating both sporting and educational elements. “I was anxious about whether or not we would be able to present a united front on certain subjects,” said Laporte after the meeting. “But I was delighted by the unanimous way in which my colleagues approved our stance on such important projects.” Other topics discussed included an increase in the regulation of club finances and a ban on the transfer of players aged 18 or under proposed by UEFA head Michel Platini. ‘Top players eye City' Manchester City has been warned that its newfound wealth will inflate transfer prices, but Mark Hughes is still gloating about his team's financial clout over crosstown rival Manchester United ahead of Sunday's 150th derby encounter. Far from being modest about the Abu Dhabi riches at his disposal, Hughes can see no reason why Kaka, who has won World Cup, Champions League and Serie A titles, would not want to join a club without a major title since 1968. Hughes had been encouraged by the 26-year-old Kaka saying earlier this week that he wants to play in England and had been sounding out fellow Brazilians Robinho and Elano about City. “Every top player in the world at some point in their career would like to play in the Premier League, that's a given because it's the strongest league in the world,” Hughes said Friday. “We are obviously an option now. Maybe three months ago the top players would not even consider coming to Manchester City.”
