Sepp Blatter to European clubs: "Send players to Asia!"

skipshady · Jul 18, 2004

Another hare brained idea from the less than brilliant mind of Sepp Blatter: http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/040718/3/52zm.html

FIFA chief Sepp Blatter has called on European clubs to boost the sport in Asia by sending players to bolster the region's professional leagues.

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In an interview with AFP, Blatter said it was time to reverse the trend of European clubs snapping up the best players in Asia, often with an eye on exploiting lucrative foreign markets.

"Immigration should go the other way," Blatter said. "In these congested leagues in Europe where clubs have so many players, they should bring these players to new horizons where they can play and earn their living honestly."

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"I'm not talking only of players who are finishing their careers but also young and established players. Take a team like AC Milan. They have about 45 players but only use around 30 of them every season.

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"But just imagine if Saviola was playing in Asia!" Blatter said. "It would be great for Asians to see these sorts of players in their leagues regularly, not just coming here on tours for millions of dollars."
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Exactly what Asia needs. Spend money that could be used to develop local talent on unmotivated European players. He brings up a good point about Asian fans supporting European clubs over local clubs, but this obviously isn't the answer.

UxSxAxfooty · Jul 18, 2004

I thought this man couldn't be any more stupid, idiotic or naive.

I was wrong,

j&bontherock · Jul 18, 2004

Players go to where the good money is.

Nepal Footy · Jul 18, 2004

I'm very involved in football in Nepal and I can't help but laugh at the mess going on in China. FIFA and the AFC has long been a staunch supporter of our pathetic FA, knowing that the votes are in the bag.

Blatter's an absolute moron: World Cup every 2 years; Women should wear sexy kits; Oceania deserves an automatic bid; Second rate foreigners to Asia...the list is endless.

ForzaGrifo · Jul 18, 2004

Blatter does have a point. Euro clubs can at least loan out their rarely-used players to Asian teams. But problem is not a lot of Asian clubs can afford it , plus the Euro club players are often not very keen in moving to Asia because of the cultural, lifestyle, and language differences.