Report: Limit on foreign soccer stars not illegal

Controversial plans by football’s world governing body to limit the number of foreign players do not breach EU rules, an independent report declared today.

FIFA’s so-called “6+5” rule has been overwhelmingly approved by 155 of the organisation’s member nations, but dismissed as illegal by the European Commission and most EU governments because they say it amounts to discrimination at work and a restriction on the free movement of workers.