Commission postpones analysis
The European Commission declined to comment further on whether football regulations introduced by the Malta FA in 2004 contravene EU laws in relation to the free movement of workers. Instead, the EC has said it will be studying the issue together with...
The European Commission declined to comment further on whether football regulations introduced by the Malta FA in 2004 contravene EU laws in relation to the free movement of workers. Instead, the EC has said it will be studying the issue together with an analysis being conducted over similar rules introduced by UEFA.
Replying to a parliamentary question submitted by Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil, the Commission revealed that it had sought clarification from the Maltese authorities.
Employment Commissioner Vladimir Spidla said that according to the Maltese government, at present there are no quantitative limits based on nationality on the number of players that can play in a team during a football match in Malta.
However, he added that the Commission is at present scrutinising the compatibility with EU rules of similar regulations adopted by UEFA. Mr Spidla added that this exercise will give the Commission services the opportunity to also monitor the Maltese rules.
The MFA currently imposes a requirement that a minimum of eight homegrown players must be on the field at any point in time during a match in the top domestic competitions.
Last October, Commissioner Spidla had said that the MFA rules seemed to be in contradiction with community law and promised that the Commission will make the necessary inquiries with the Maltese authorities.
A report prepared for the European Parliament on the UEFA regulations ruled out the possibility that associations, including Malta's, introduce new rules to include homegrown players in their squads, as this goes directly against EU laws on discrimination.
According to UEFA, as from the start of the 2006-07 season clubs participating in the Champions League and Uefa Cup competitions must include four homegrown players in their 25-man squads with the figure rising to six in 2007-08 and eight in 2008-09.
Although the quotas refer to where a player has been trained rather than his nationality, the EP's report argued that the quotas would indirectly discriminate against foreign nationals.
According to EU law, rules on the free movement of workers also apply to sports persons, as it was confirmed by the Court of Justice in particular in its Bosman ruling.