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Hoeness happy as player limits go

Germany's national team, coached by Klinsmann, left, will not be affected

HAMBURG, Germany -- Top Bundesliga clubs have welcomed the German football league's (DFL) decision to scrap the limit on the number of non-Europeans they are allowed to field.

Bayern Munich club manager Uli Hoeness said the restriction -- clubs could only field four non-Europeans per game -- was a hindrance to clubs in UEFA competitions.

He also said he believed the rule change which takes effect for 2006-2007 would not weaken Germany's national team.

"People who think that the national team is made stronger by this (restriction) are mistaken. A good German footballer will also make it," said Hoeness.

VfL Wolfsburg counterpart, Klaus Fuchs, agreed saying such regulations had rarely helped matters.

However, Fuchs said he feared the move could widen the gap between the top Bundesliga clubs and the rest even further.

"The top (teams) will be stronger," he said.

The DFL agreed Wednesday to remove the rule, deciding also that each Bundesliga club would have to have at least 12 German-licensed players on their books.

Under the local player rule four players between the ages of 15 and 21 will have to make at least two appearances for their respective clubs.

The number of locally-trained players which the clubs have to field at least twice increases to six for the 2007-2008 season and to eight in the subsequent season.

Hoeness said he wasn't so sure about this rule though.

"We will have to see that we bring on so many good young German players, who have the quality necessary for the Bundesliga," he said.

"That is more important than increasing quotas."

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