Brown considers English player quota

Brown promises best decade of sport

Wednesday, 14, Nov 2007 12:00

Gordon Brown could back calls for a quota system to reduce the number of foreign players in the English Premier League.

Following his support for "British jobs for British workers," Mr Brown's advisors have opened discussions with the authorities in charge of English football's top division about extending the policy into the nation's most popular sport.

The Premier League has been built on an unrestricted system in recent seasons, allowing any players regardless of nationality to play in teams in the Premier League.

At one point this saw Chelsea field a starting line-up free of any English player.

European football's governing body, Uefa, and world governing body Fifa are already in the process of drafting proposals aimed at limiting the number of foreigners that can be used in European and worldwide club competitions.

A quota system is already in force in Scotland, potentially affecting Mr Brown's own team of Raith Rovers if they ever gain promotion to the top league.

The Scottish Premier League stipulates that at least three Scottish-born players under 21 must be named in the matchday squad, which has enabled a number of home-grown younger players to take part in top-level football.

This has been credited as a major contributory factor to the increased success of the Scottish national team.

In the House of Commons today, Mr Brown confirmed he will back a bid by England to host the 2018 football World Cup.

The prime minister told MPs he was looking forward to the "best sporting decade in the country's history".

Mr Brown is also backing a bid for the rugby World Cup in 2015. This week it was confirmed Glasgow will host the 2014 Commonwealth Games, while the Olympics comes to London in 2012.