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Prague - FIFA president Sepp Blatter urged the EU on Monday to support his plan for national quotas for players in European club teams.
He spoke after meeting with Czech President Vaclav Klaus, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency.
Blatter wants to introduce a rule, known as 6, that would oblige each team to have at least six players on the pitch who are eligible to play for the national side of the country where their club is based. Though only five foreign players could take the field, there would be no limit on their number under contract at a club.
Wealthy clubs in big European leagues currently use large numbers of foreign players thanks to rules on free movement of labour within the 27-nation bloc.
"Let football in peace, let football organise itself," Blatter said, arguing that such quotas were good for strengthening the teams' national identity and the growth of local talent.
"You cannot compare footballers with normal workers," Blatter said, adding that FIFA would present a number of legal analyses in Brussels on Thursday to prove that the 6 rule would be compatible with EU legislation.
Blatter would like to see the rule in force in 2012.
