European Football

By Mark Ledsom

BERNE, Switzerland, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Foreigners make up more than 40 percent of the players in Europe's top five leagues with the figure for England's Premiership almost 60 percent, according to a new study.

The Annual Review of the European Football Players' Labour Market, published on Thursday by the Professional Football Players Observatory, found the number of foreigners in the top divisions in England, Germany, Spain, France and Italy last season had reached 42.4 percent.

The study said this marked a 3.5 percent increase on season 2006-07.

England's Premiership again proved the most attractive draw for foreigners, who made up 59.5 percent of the total.

The study also found foreign players had for the first time contributed more than half (51.9 percent) of the goals scored in the top five leagues.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter, whose organisation backed the review, said in a statement the findings highlighted "the need to have solidarity and maintain a balance in football".

Blatter wants to introduce a so-called 'six plus five' quota system that would mean teams starting matches with a maximum of five foreigners.

"I can guarantee continents like South America and Africa are behind us on this as they are the main suppliers for big European clubs and are suffering from the exodus of their players," added the president of world soccer's ruling body.

According to the report, non-European players now represent 50 percent of the total number of foreigners in the top five leagues.

Blatter's quota proposals have been repeatedly rejected by European Union officials who say the scheme would be in conflict with EU laws on the free movement of workers.