The basic position is that EC law means that:

• transfer fees for out-of-contract players who are switching from a club in one EU Member State to a club in another Member State are illegal (but are legal if the player is still under contract);
  
• while limits on the number of players from non Member States can be imposed without infringing EU law, any limits or quotas on player numbers by reference to nationality are unlawful if they affect nationals of EU member states.

The position above was established by the ECJ judgment in Union Royale Belge, Royal Club Liegois & UEFA v Bosman, ECJ case C-415/93 on 15th December 1995, reported at [1996] All ER (EC) 1997.

In May 2008 FIFA, the world governing body, voted in favour of a rule which would limit every team to only five foreign players in their starting XI (FIFA Congress supports objectives of 6+5, 30th May 2008). However in the EU, this would be unlawful as direct discrimination.

See also Freedom of movement of workers/a general introductory note and/or Racial discrimination/direct and indirect discrimination and/or Specific employments/footballers .