The creatively-named '6+5 rule' simply implies that a team's line-up on the field must be composed of at least 6 domestic players. These 'domestic players' must have born in that country and must be eligible for domestic team duty. For example, a club like AC Milan would have to include 6 Italian players in their line-up who are Italian-born and eligible to play for the Italian national team. The only problem for the new rule is its application in Europe where it comes up against the EU's labour laws.



Why? Sepp Blatter explains that this rule is necessary because many domestic clubs are dominated by foreigners that they have lost their role of nurturing players for their national teams. One commonly cited example, is Arsenal FC from England. Despite it being an English club, its first 11 has been regularly dominated by foreign players, most notably French players. From time to time, an English player may start, but most of the time, it is a completely foreign team. Hence, Arsenal plays no role in helping to nurture players for the England national team.

The '6+5 rule' has almost been implemented on every continent. The FIFA Congress in May assured its enforcement in all continents except Europe due to the EU's labour laws. FIFA is now looking to lobby the EU to make football an exceptional case when it comes to complying with EU legislation.

How? FIFA and its national associations will have the duty of overseeing the implementation and enforcement of the rule in their own countries.

That basically all there is to know about the '6+5 rule' up until the present day. There are sure to be many more developments regarding these issues which will covered in further articles as they happen.