Blatter critical of Europe's 'trade in humans'

LONDON (Reuters) -- FIFA president Sepp Blatter has criticized major European clubs for creating a "high-stakes trade in humans" in search of new international audiences to boost their incomes.

"The process of globalization, which affects all our lives, is exerting a malign influence on football," said the head of world soccer's ruling body.

In a hard-hitting editorial in the November issue of the official FIFA magazine he is also critical of major clubs who abandon their roots and pack their teams with foreign players.

"A select few European clubs are increasingly desperate to to appeal to international audiences in ever more distant parts of the globe to tap into new income streams that will allow them to continue to recruit what they regard as the "best" players.

"Since many such players hail from Africa, South America, Oceania and increasingly Asia, a high-stakes trade in humans is the end result," Blatter writes.

While he agrees some of the clubs in question already have international appeal either because of their playing success or the way they are marketed, Blatter objects to them abandoning their local social responsibilities.

"If a London club has only a couple of English players in its first team squad, with the rest coming from half-a-dozen countries, I am sure I am not the only one who has a problem associating that club with its local area.

"It may well be that such a club appeals to spectators as far afield as Asia, South American and the U.S..

"But what about the fan whose father and grandfather were season-ticket holders before him? Or the youngster who always dreamt of a career with his local club ?

"And what about the academy that is no longer in London, but Australia or Cameroon because it is supposedly cheaper to scout and develop local talent.

"What about the national team that, as a result, is deprived of players?"

Blatter's views are shared by UEFA, European soccer's governing body, which has been powerless to limit the number of foreigners playing for clubs since the so-called Bosman ruling removed restrictions in 1995.

UEFA is considering introducing new rules forcing clubs to include a minimum number of homegrown players developed through their own youth programmes.

But it is powerless to limit the number of foreigners coming through the youth ranks because of EU rules on free movement.

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