European Footballers - Last One I Promise!
David Dein is a legend - he drove Arsenal forward, appointed Arsene Wenger and was instrumental in bringing Dennis Bergkamp to Highbury. However he left under less than pleasent circumstances when he tried to force the board into accepting a Russian and then American takeover. That seemed to signal the end for Dein’s footballing sensibility.
However the man is back on the scene (although not with Arsenal) and has Fifa/Uefa in his sights with their potty foriegners obsession.
“As we stand today, it is illegal under Article 39 of the European Treaty, the freedom of movement of labour,’’ Dein said
I’ve touched on that before but it seems Dein has done his homework, and his most pertinent point is the ridiculousness of blaming foreigners for the decline of the national game:
It’s a cheap shot to blame the foreigners. There were only 11 non-British players in the old First Division [1991-92]. Now there are 450 in the Premiership. But England did not win a tournament since 1966 and there was no influx of foreigners in the 26-year gap to the start of the Premier League.
I’m with David.
Filed by Kieran at July 31st, 2008 under Blog, Complaint!, Football