By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
June 1 – An attempt by Arab nations to relax the rules on players switching nationality was thrown out by FIFA today, a blow to countries like 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar to buy up and develop young talent ahead of the next World Cup in Brazil.
FIFA was asked by the United Arab Emirates to consider a suggestion that any player over the age of 18 need only live in a new country for three rather than the current five years before he can play for his adopted team.
Until 2004, a player only needed the passport of the country he wanted to represent, which many nations were happy to fast-track.
But after Qatar tried to sign up Brazilian forward Ailton (pictured), FIFA ruled that players must have lived in their country for at least two years before they could play for it. That was later increased to five.
The UAE, represented by their federation President Mohamed Khalfan Al-Rumaithi, wanted the rules relaxed again but Angel Maria Villar-Llona, head of FIFA’s legal affairs department, said such a move would totally negate what FIFA were trying to do.
“Unfortunately, no,” said Villar-Llona.
“The UAE want to go a step back.
“We have to differentiate between a football nationality and a real identity.”
FIFA boss Sepp Blatter once said that he feared a World Cup being played with teams full of Brazilian players who had changed nationalities.
“A player must have a high-profile national identity,” said Villar-Llona.
“When you organise competitions you have two elements that are fundamental: the great game of football and national identity.
“If we miss out on these things, the whole thing comes tumbling down. We can’t play with national identity which is the foundation of a national team.”
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