England v USA; England face USA in a friendly on Wednesday night at Wembley, live on BBC1 at 20:05. Click here for Best Price match odds.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter is to press ahead with plans to limit the number of foreign players at clubs, saying that his organization should utilise the world of sport into helping make it happen.

Blatter insisted that FIFA would not not look to contravene any employment laws by pursuing the foreign quota proposal and that he would explore all means possible to implement it as a rule.

Blatter’s so-called “6+5” proposal—which would limit the number of foreign players to start any match to five— has sparked a battle of ideologies within the game.

“This is a subject close to my heart,” Blatter told reporters.

“I want to protect the national teams and prevent leagues having only a small number of clubs with any chance of winning the title.”

Speaking at a FIFA executive committee meeting in Sydney, the Blatter said that he will ask Congress for is to “explore all possible means within the limits of law” to make it happen.

“It is more than just further talks and investigation,” Blatter insisted.

“The confederations have said they are in favor of the objectives of 6+5, but we should achieve this through negotiation not confrontation.

“It is now up to the congress to see if they support it.

“We say that the congress shall request the FIFA and UEFA presidents together with the world of sport, including the International Olympic Committee and international sports federations to explore—not only to discuss—to explore all possible means within the limits of law to implement this rule.

“I can tell you now already that on June 5, I have a meeting with the president of the European Parliament in Brussels.

“So now we go to our congress (to make) its resolution but again I say we are not going into confrontation because we are exploring all these means and possibilities in respect of laws.

“It is not only European laws, there are other laws, national laws or supranational laws.”

In Brussels, a spokesman for European Parliament president Hans-Gert Poettering confirmed that he would be meeting Blatter next week, but described the talks as “purely exploratory.”

England v USA; England face USA in a friendly on Wednesday night at Wembley, live on BBC1 at 20:05. Click here for Best Price match odds.