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IOC chief to tackle EU over quotas

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-22 10:31

BRUSSELS - International Olympic Committee chief Jacques Rogge said he will join forces with FIFA president Sepp Blatter next month in a bid to convince the European Union of the merits of quotas for foreign players at clubs.

President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jacques Rogge, announces his decision to stand for a second term in office during a news conference in Brussels October 30, 2008. [Agencies]

Blatter, the head of soccer's world governing body, has run into opposition from the European Commission and EU governments over plans to curb the number of foreign players at clubs, known as the '6+5' rule.

Brussels deems Blatter's proposals in breach of the bloc's strict rules on free movement of workers and the EU's sports commissioner said last month the FIFA chief was "flogging a dead horse".

However, Rogge told Reuters in an interview on Thursday: "If Sepp Blatter is said to be banging his head against the wall (on 6+5), then I say he will not be alone in banging against the wall. We are united with him".

"Absolutely I support 6+5, it is not only the IOC, it is all the major federations. The world of sport is in favour of that."

Other sports bodies, such as rugby, basketball and handball, are also mulling introducing their own quotas but have so far resisted in light of the EU's stance.

LEGAL ACTION

Brussels has warned that any country allowing its soccer associations or leagues to introduce the 6+5 rule will face legal action at the European Court of Justice -- Europe's highest court -- which could lead to hefty fines.

But Blatter has been lobbying EU governments ahead of a meeting of sports ministers from the 27-member bloc in November in a bid to have the Commission's position re-evaluated.

Rogge said: "We will see what the political movement is prepared to do. There is more we can do, but we propose and they will decide.

"We have a delegation at the meeting next month and we will try to make our case."

Rogge backs Blatter's view that sport's social aspect means it should not be treated like other industries and therefore should be exempted from some EU laws because of its special nature -- known as specificity.

"What we want is a proper implementation of rules that takes care of the social nature of sport. Sport is much more than an economic activity," Rogge said.

"The criticism we have towards the EU's approach is that they treat sport purely as an economic factor. Sport is an economic factor, but it is also much more than that and this is neglected by EU lawmakers."