Fifa president Sepp Blatter will forge ahead with plans to curb the number of foreign players at soccer clubs, saying that his organisation should coral the world of sport into helping make it happen.
The Swiss head of world soccer's governing body insisted that Fifa would not be "going into confrontation" with any employment laws by pursuing the foreign quota proposal and that they should explore all means possible to implement it as a rule.
Blatter's so-called "6+5" proposal - which would limit the number of foreign players to start any club match to five - has sparked a battle of ideologies in global soccer.
Opponents say it would be an unworkable regulation which contravenes the European Union's free movement of workers rules.
Blatter, however, insists foreign quotas are necessary to ensure the sport's growth and well-being and to prevent a handful of rich clubs dominating honours.
"This is a subject close to my heart," he told reporters. "I want to protect the national teams and prevent leagues having only a small number of clubs with any chance of winning the title."
Given the weight of legal opposition to his plans, it had been suggested Blatter would merely ask the Congress this week for a mandate to examine the issue further, representing something of a climbdown from asking it to endorse the plan.
Speaking at a Fifa executive committee meeting in Sydney today, Blatter insisted this was not the case, however, though what he will ask Congress for is to "explore all possible means within the limits of law" to make it happen.
"It is more than just further talks and investigation," Blatter insisted. "The confederations have said they are in favour of the objectives of 6+5, but we should achieve this through negotiation not confrontation.
"It is now up to the congress to see if they support it."
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