Germany looks to cut number of foreign players

German Football League (DFL) president Werner Hackmann has admitted he had thrown his backing behind a proposal to reduce the number of non-EU foreigners in Bundesliga teams from five to four by the 2006-2007 season.

The DFL and the German Football Federation (DFB) have held talks over the move which it is hoped will help increase the number of homegrown players making rthe grade in the Bundesliga.

“Wolfgang Holzhauser (DFL vice-president) and myself have come up with this suggestion and spoke with the DFB about implementing the new rule,” Hackmann told the Die Welt.

Franz Beckenbauer, president of the 2006 World Cup organising committee, and former national coach Rudi Voller have both called for a reduction of the number of foreigners in German football.