Blatter's reference to "the GB team" is interesting.
I think pressure is growing within FIFA and UEFA to end the anomaly that sees England, Scotland, Wales and N.Ireland regarded as separate countries.
If a GB team appears in the 2012 olympics it will be used to force the end of this separation

Nick, Reading,

yes i can understand what you are saying by trying to giv the england manager more english people to pick but if england never qulafied for euro 2008 doent that show you that there is not alot of goo england plyaers around because if they was good players for england then they would be in euro 2008

jermaine, birmingham, england

Why does England always seem to get the stick from UEFA and FIFA
Be it the resposne to our hooigans when other countries have the worse problems.
Lack of action against racism when it come to black english players, which is truly shocking imho. Before attacking successe FIFA should hold a mirror up

James Ibbotson, Sheffield,

In the modern age, club is far more important than country. Lets face it, English players are rubbish; no matter how much the press claims them to be superstars they aren't. They can't pass, shoot, or control the ball like foreign players. Running around like headless chickens doesn't win anything.

sam, newcastle,

This anachronism idea of Sepp Blatter takes football many steps backwards. Football is like any other profession. There is a good reason why EU law states free movement
for labour, it is supposed to, and does, impede negative nationalism. Sepp Blatter does not know exactly what he is doing.

Sævar Örn, Reykjavik, Iceland

This is a clear breach of the principle of free movement of labour under the EEC`s (now the EU`s) Treaty of Rome. This was (and is) one of the EU`s Holy Grails - it will not allow it to be touched at any cost. FIFA are living in cloud cuckoo land if they think the EU will give in on this.

James Barker, Singapore, Singapore

Wasn't a problem when there were three Italian teams in the Champions League semis was it? Or when there were four Italian teams in the Champions League semis before that. But now we can outbid the continentals and have strongest sides FIFA act?! This lot are gonna let us have 2018 are they..?!

Myles Bailey, London, UK

Does he consider EU players as foreigners as well? Quite weird and odd.....any EU player is also a EU citizen, right? Is he referring to extra EU nationals then? Any EU team should be allowed to have as many EU players as they wish....as long as you feel part of the team you represent and play in...

Pascal-Pierre, Dinan, EU (France)

10 out 22 players at Champions league final were English . . . . . whats the problem . . . . oh I know! more people around the world watch the English clubs in the premiership and any competitions than Euro 2008 and the last wolrd cup.
The FA should get more demanding, stop bending over for Blatter

andy, london,

'We don't win at something so let's change the rules'. Don't change the rules to let poor players take better players places in premiership. Play the talent. Every foreign player was once a rookie. They worked and made it. Don't remove them. Learn from them. Birthplace is irrelevant.

Tom, Glasgow, Scotland

We used to have a limit on the number of foreign players allowed but only in European competition. Fergie would have to umm and aghh over whether to drop Kanchelskis or throw Les Sealey in between the sticks instead of Schmeichel.
It did mean that home grown players would get a crack of the whip

Ruth Badger, London,

If we restrict the number of foreign footballers every match will be as entertaining as watching England playing. We will become bored, TV will stop showing them and our footballers will end-up earning the minimum wage.

Brian Christley, Abergele, UK

The foreign players usually represent bettter value for money than their homegrown counterparts. Also if teams are obliged to have six homegrown players would this not make them (even) more expensive as there would be a supply and demand element brought to the transfer market.

Michael, London,

This rule isn't going to stop English players from being crap.

Martyn, bournemouth,

I have heard the argument that England stars will rise, but it's failing in the real world; moreover how can English talent develop if foreign has-beens and super-stars dominate selection? I'd sooner see England sport benefit than EU law reign. This should be our call, no the EU's.

james Cullup, Oxford,

The debate surely is whether 'Chelsea' or 'Arsenal' etc. are branded English because of their consitituent parts or their geographic location. Are they not 'English' because they play foreign players? No! They are 'English' because of where they are based. Whats next? Managers?

David L, Brussels,

Under this proposal, would Welsh, Scottish and (Northern) Irish players be considered foreigners for English clubs?

Roger, Victoria, BC, Canada

English clubs buy foreign players because there is a lack of home grown talent. A rule which permits more English players onto the pitch simply won't help; homegrown talent will develop (hopefully one day) regardless of this. ManU and Chelsea-with about 9 English players between them-testify to this

Richard Allan, Cambridge, England

Illegal under EU law. Very simple!

riccardo, brussels,

La Liga had 3 semi finalists in 2000 (Real Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona) and a Madrid/ Valencia final. No one in Fifa seemed to care back then... why do they care now?

He has also sunk to new depths quoting Keggers Keegan. Trig from Only Fools and Horses will be quoted next.

Niall, Dublin, Ireland

Will having more english players in the premiership will improve the national team, or will it drag the quality of premiership down?

Internationals matches are few and far between, and i'd rather pay the high matchday prices to see skilled players wherever they are from, not the best of the rest!

Rich, kingston,

About time !!!! Then can we have 'proper' English players playing in a 'proper' English League. Then, maybe just then we may be able to win the World Cup.

James Cole, London, UK

Does a player who becomes a naturalized British citizen count as a foreigner? - Ronaldo could aply for citizenship next year. So now we get young foreigners in EVEN younger so they they can become british citizens by 20. In the meantime, all the england team will be bought by the "Big Four". Genius!

Martin, Liverpool, England

This would be ridiculous, banning foreign players from the premier league would worsen Englands national side, the more competitive the league is the better english players will be, anyone who says otherwise isn't really thinking with their head

Ravi, London, uk

How ironic - they've created a monster now they want to slay it!

There is too much money sloshing around the top echelon of English football. I welcome the move. Other moves, such as salary caps and spending caps may have a place but presumably these would also breach EU laws on competition!

Andy, London, UK

The new rule says there can only be five "foreign" players in their starting XI.In the UK there are four nations,hence there being four national teams.
Thus in an English team a Scotsman,Welshman or Ulsterman would be a foreigner.
What about "English" people of immigrant stock?
Who are "English"?

james allen, liverpool, ENGLAND

It seems crazy that Blatter thinks that the rest of the world has the right to ask Europe to amend its laws to suit them. We have our laws and he should respect that. UEFA's idea is far better but Blatter doesnt like it because it is not his idea.

Tim, London,

Another approach would be the method of capped salaries. Lets see how many of the overseas players would be willing to play in the UK if the wages were not at the current ridiculous levels.
It works in Australian Rugby League and see where they are in the RL world rankings.

Thomas, Alicante, Spain

I support this...and I'm an Arsenal fan. I just hope that teams are given enough time to change their squads.

Jonathan, Reading,

Yeah we all got do something so how come no one cares about the number of foreigners working in our bars or restuarants, should we limit the numbers to give young English yobs the opportunity to shine through?

mark, surbiton, england

Ferdinand, Brown, Carrick, Scholes, Hargreaves, Rooney - I think that's six. Looks like United would have won it even if the new rule was working now.

Terry Hamblin, Bournemouth,

The reason this is happening is because Fifa are desperate to assert their authority over the Premiership which is in danger of usurping them (see 39th game etc). Mind you as a fan I often feeled screwed over by the Premier League so I am not particularly bothered if they get the same treatment.

Ryan Talbot, Hereford,

This will not work in Europe and FIFA will not be able to implement this as it is a simple breach of EU LAW....it should not be inclusive of EU players but I suppose there is an argument for non EU players which could possibly be limited.........Is this because of the recent dominance of UK?

C Kroustis, London, UK

Something has to be done. With the average number of Englishman playing in each Prmiership team now at 3, I can see a serious shortage of talent coming through that will in time, mean the days of England turning up at tournaments being a thing of the past. Maybe it already is.

G, Leeds,

maybe this could be extended to having a % of english managers in each division

david lister, carlisle, england

We should limit, in some way, shape or form, the number of overseas players permitted in the fielded 11. How else can young, home grown talent get an opportunity?
In saying that, I doubt some young, English upstart is waiting in the wings to usurp Cristiano Ronaldo or Tevez

Gnash, London,

Rubbish. English teams dominate,lo,we need a rule change.If anyone thinks that it would improve our national side,think again.In the past when there were fewer foriegn players we were still rubbish.If our players are not good enough now then they will not be good enough in a protected league.

robert everitt, wolverhampton,

Apart from the creme de la creme of English football, home grown players are not featuring in the first 11 because they're rubbish. Sort the training and development out first and the rest will fall into place.

Gnash, London,

This has happened before, the last time that English teams - Liverpool & Nottingham Forest - were dominant in Europe.As Scottish, Welsh & N.Irish players were considered 'foreign' this seriously affected most 1st Division teams, and was viewed as an underhand ploy to force us to play as team GB.

simon, southampton, uk

How does the EU define 'work'? If a foreign player is still free to sign, train and be paid equally by a club, but simply won't be played in some games when English players are selected to hit the quota, surely that's ok? Injuries etc will always effect the pool of players available anyway.

chris, Worthing, England

A nice Idea - just a shame it's illegal and would be smashed by the first Jean-marc Bossman to put it to the test.

MB, Aberdeen,

FIFA boss Blatter is concerned, (ie terrified) that the amazingly succesful and popular Champions League club football controlled by UEFA is slowly but surely squeezing out dull and boring international football controlled by FIFA, with the inevitable transfer of power that would ensue.

RedDevil, North West, UK

Every Englishman should back Sepp Blatter on this. If it were to materialise then it would stop the Arsene Wenger's of this world from ruining English football. More Engliash players playing top flight football can only benefit our International team. There were no foreigners in Div 1 in 1966.

Pete, Sydney,

I don't often agree with Herr Blatter, and his plan does indeed have serious flaws, but I support the objective.

I am fed up of seeing teams, still described as English by the commentators, take the field with no home grown talent in the side at all.

Phase it in though?

Andy, Plymouth, UK

There would first have to be a world-wide definition of nationality. I seem to remember a rugby controversy on this a few years ago, when one country went back to grandparents, or was it even further? Also Cardiff could only have Welsh players and Scottish players would be foreigners in England

J Claxton, Portishead, United Kingdom

To turn a legal phrase, what mischief is Blatter trying to remedy? On one hand he says English domination in Europe is a problem, on the other that the English clubs in question are almost in compliance to the proposed rules anyway. Where will this leave the development of African foootball?

Emmanuel, Nairobi, Kenya

Blatter's approach is flawed on economic grounds. Why? Because the richest clubs will increase the number of players that they have on their books aged between 15 to 21, something they alone can afford to do. This will decrease the talent pool available to poorer clubs.

Martin Glen, London,

Confusion is reigning in FIFA...Blatter said 6 players were eligable for "Great Britain"...does he not realise there is no GB team? Giggs would be a "foreigner", as he plays for Wales. Unless this is also an attempt by Blatter to get rid of the Home Nations and install a GB team instead?

Chris, Northampton, England

This is going to hurt teams outside the top 4 far more as they will now lose their best English players to make up numbers, i.e. Barry, Ashton, Downing. At least before we were plundering foreign leagues. Guess that's the point but it's another blow to the Premier League as a competition.

Anwar Taali, London,

In 2003 the European final was between Juventus and Milan both of Italy. Three italian teams were in the semi finals that year.

In 2000 all Spanish final Madrid beat Valencia. Three Spanish teams in the semi final.

Not a word from FIFA/UEFA about the dominance of those leagues !!

andy, manchester,

There doesn't seem an explaination for this. Is it for the benifit of national sides? In which case Ireland, Scotland and Welsh players should count as foreign. Or is it to make leagues more competative? In which case it's redistribution of wealth thats needed not less foreign players.

Stuart, London,

Isn't it ironic that after decades of hard work to eliminate blue-collar racism from the terraces that we are so comfortable to see it replaced with white-collar racisim in the boardroom ?

Chris, London, UK

If Keegan cant buy quality then maybe he hasnt got the eye for it. Who out there, hand on heart, knew of Ronaldo, Anderson, Evra, Manucho, etc before the press told us that they have been signed by United.
Who out there had heard of Fletcher, Oshea, the Neville brothers etc before scouts found them.

Zeus, stockholm, sweden

At last... What a waist of time since Bosman's case that threatened the heart & soul of football.
And what a paradox that the EU commissioner for equal opportunities would oppose any change to a system that precisely embodies unequal opportunities.

Pierre75, Paris, France

It should be interesting to see how this is going to play out. Just to be sure, we should invest even more money in our youth educations.

Erik, the Hague, Netherlands

"six players eligible for the Great Britain team at the beginning of the match, so we are not far away. "
What 'Great Britain' team?
Does this mean that players fom the British Isles would count as 'home' players.
I'm not sure what's going on here.

John Murphy, Chadderton, Lancs.

The big 4 already buy the best of the English talent and the gap will grow even bigger if the others can't pick up quality from abroad. Two English teams in the European Cup final, England in the RWC final - why is English sporting success always followed by rule changes?

James, Madrid, Spain

After clubs abusing the numbers of foreign players, I think this is a positive step forward.

Matt, Naples, Italia

Blatter believes he is bigger than the any European commission." If there is a law it can be amended" why? to suit Blatter, egotistical buffoon. Didn't worry too much when the competition was dominated by the Italians or Spanish. But is worried the premier leaque may be more powerful than him.

mark, surbiton, england

Call me paranoid, but it seems strange that having two teams from the same country is a crisis in football only when they are English (despite the final passing off peacefully and being hailed by independent observers as a good game). Why didn't two Spanish or Italian teams cause this uproar?

Nick, France,

Oh no... This is a disaster.

Josh Dickson, Preston, UK