FOOTBALL: PORTUGUESE FOOTBALL FEDERATION TO REDUCE EXTRA-COMMUNITY PLAYERS

The Portuguese Football Federation has approved a reduction in the number of players from outside European Union member states. The number of these players allowed at present is 6 per club, four of whom are allowed to play in any game. However, next season (2001/2) this number will be reduced to four per club and two per game and the following year, the numbers will halve: only two non-EU players will be allowed per club and only one per game. These measures will not affect players who currently have contracts with Portuguese clubs or who sign contracts before the end of the present season (May 31st, 2001). It is therefore expected that a spate of contractions will be made before the end of this season by Portugal’s top clubs – FC Porto, Benfica and Sporting.

Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey Pravda.Ru Lisbon