FIFA President Sepp Blatter has forecast success for his proposed ‘6+5' rule which would limit soccer clubs' ability to pick overseas players. The plan is intended to increase opportunities for homegrown talent by forcing clubs to field at least six players eligible to play for the domestic national team. It would currently be illegal under European labor laws, but Blatter says he is confident of success. “It is indeed an issue which worries the family of football and it should eventually be implemented with the help of European institutions,” Blatter said after a meeting of the FIFA Executive Committee on Friday. “Of course we don't want to clash directly with existing laws in the European Union concerning the free movement of workers,” Blatter said. “It is also about the education and training of young people.” Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini are scheduled to meet European Commission officials in Brussels next month. Both FIFA and UEFA are lobbying for “specificity of sport” exemptions from EU trade and employment laws. EU Sports Commissioner Jan Figel said Friday that the plan stands no chance of success. The FIFA president said the executive committee was less enamored with a proposal by the English Premier League to stage an additional round of its league fixtures overseas. “There was a very strong response from the committee ... that this idea does not work,” Blatter said. Premier League officials were due to hold talks with FIFA last month but instead decided on “further consultation” after strong domestic and international criticism. Summing up the rest of Friday's executive committee meeting, Blatter called on clubs to “abide by the Olympic spirit” and release players over 23 who want to play at the Beijing Games. Olympic soccer teams can use up to three ‘overage' players although there is no obligation for clubs to release them. FIFA also said its ban on high altitude internationals will be maintained after the issue was discussed following a request by the South American football confederation.Size of pitches FIFA also accepted a proposal to standardize the size of international soccer pitches at all new stadiums in the world. The world governing body's executive committee on Friday adopted a new rule from the International Football Association Board to fix the pitch size at 105 meters (yards) by 68 meters. The rule will not apply to existing stadiums, and it will not affect the international eligibility of Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where the United States is negotiating to play Argentina in a friendly match on June 8. __
