

Foreign player regulations

Different Leagues have different regulations for players from abroad. Some of them are collected here.

There are only a few leagues by now but hopefully more soon.

Please mail the regulations of your country or if there are any false entries.





Italy (at first until season 2003/2004) : player union want a foreign player limit (including EC)

clubs don't want a foreign player limit (including EC)

third division teams have to name 4 Italian players aged under 20 for match day

fourth division teams have to name 5 Italian players aged under 20 for match day

Clubs in Serie C and below are not allowed to sign non-EC players

maximum of five non-EC players allowed, three of them in a league match

Serie A and B clubs will be allowed to recruit one additional non-EU player before 31 August 2002 deadline. Until further notice from 1 September 2002 no further signings from outside the EU will be accepted. Spain : 6 none European players can be signed

only 4 are allowed to play on the pitch during match day

only 3 can be named for match day -> starting 2005

player union wants that clubs have to name at least 6 Spanish players

for starting formation. This caused by Luis van Gaal who had only 3 Spanish

players in his starting formation.

for starting formation. This caused by Luis van Gaal who had only 3 Spanish players in his starting formation. players from South America get a Spanish status after 2 years playing in a Spanish division

starting 2003: 4 none European players can be signed

Third division team are only allowed to sign Spanish and EC players France : 5 non EC-players can be signed

5 non EC-players are allowed to play on the pitch during match day

there is no limit for players from former French colonies England : no foreign player limit but players need a work permission for the

first year. This work permission will be renewed if the player played

over 75% of all matches. Netherlands : no foreign player(non EC) limit

high minimum wage must be paid. This should stop clubs from buying

average foreign players

average foreign players no future planes for setting a foreign player limit Belgium : no foreign player(non EC) limit Austria : 5 non European players are allowed to play on the pitch during match day

7 none European players can be signed

talks and suggestions about changing the limit

League clubs want to name 8 non-EU players for match day Portugal : 6 none European players can be signed

only 4 are allowed to play on the pitch during match day

players from Brazil have an EC status

talks about changing the limit Germany : 5 none European players can be signed

only 3 are allowed to play on the pitch during match day

there`s a trick : more than 5 non EC players can be signed if they get

an amateur status

an amateur status Non-EC players in a 1st and 2nd Bundesliga club's amateur team are no longer allowed

to name for match day. (only for players signed after 20th January 2003)

to name for match day. (only for players signed after 20th January 2003) players from UEFA countries have an EC status

teams must have 12 German players in the team

Regional-League (3.division) team and below are not allowed to sign non-European players Greece : there is a limit of 5 foreign players for every team

only 5 are allowed to play on the pitch during match day Turkey : 8 foreign players can be signed

only 5 are allowed to play on the pitch during match day

6 can be named for match day F.Y.R. Macedonia Second division teams can not have foreign players in their squads Latvia no limit for foreign players in Premier League and 1st Division

only 5 are allowed to play on the pitch during match day

no difference between EC and non-EC players

no foreign players allowed in regional divisions



