Brussels, 09/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - As the European Union is preparing to formally recognise the specific nature of sport in the simplified treaty that is to be submitted to the European Council of Lisbon on 18 and 19 October, sports organisations - especially those in the world of football - are still hoping that the text may be amended before it is signed, arguing that the specific nature of the sport cannot come under strict application of competition rules. In an interview granted to the BBC on Friday, Sepp Blatter, President of FIFA (Fédération internationale de football association), compared players to artists who should not be considered as ordinary workers. He called therefore for an exemption to the European rules on sport. Taking the view that the national identity of football clubs should be protected, he said football clubs should not have more than five non-national players, despite European rules. “This contravenes the EU treaty and internal market rules on the free movement of workers”, responded Frédéric Vincent, spokesman for Jan Figel, Sports Commissioner. “A worker is a worker so a player is a worker who earns a salary like everybody else”, he went on to say. The former football player, Michel Platini, President of UEFA (Union of European Football Associations), has written a letter to the heads of state calling for the provisions in a text, that he considers too timid, to be strengthened in order to give correct protection to football against the mercenary aspects of the sport. Only the G14, which represents the 18 most competitive football clubs, does not follow this same reasoning and supports the current system. (il)