Tokos: foreign players do not threaten the Slovak football. The Slovak FA rule is wrong.

The link to an interview with Jozef Tokos including the video link to  Pravda TV is as follows:

https://futbal.pravda.sk/ostatne/clanok/495951-tokos-cudzinci-futbal-u-nas-neohrozuju-ale-norma-je-zla/

The number of foreign players in the Slovak premier league is growing. Their elligibility to play is regulated by the Slovak FA rules, but the wording in this important area is not accurate. 

The article 47, paragraph 4 reads explicitly: "Maximum five players with other citizenship than a member state of the European Union shall be allowed to play for one team of a club in one competitive league or a cup game “.

At present in Senica there are more players from non-European countries. The Slovak FA rule does not take into account the fact that some of them got also EU passports, which is at their benefit. „This rule should be amended as soon as possible,“ claims sports law expert Jozef Tokos (...)

The number of foreign players increases in almost all the leagues, there is a majority of them in some teams. How should local football protect against it? Is itv really necessary? 

It is necessary to protect local football in the moment whenthe regulatory body, in this case the Slovak FA, decides that there is a problem for the football development in the country. In my opinion, this has not happened so far. The problem is not related to the majority of the clubs. Nobody would doubts about foreign players bringing higher quality to the league, for instance the majority of foreigners in Slovan, Dunajska Streda, Zilina, Trencin... Many of them are national team players representing their countries. 

However, many people consider it as a problem. The fans quite often critisize the fact that there is a majority of foreign footballers in their loved teams... 

It is quite understandable. Every fan carefully considers the fact what kind of relationship the players have towards their club, jersey, colours, irrespective of the nationality. The local players, often born in the club´s  town or a neighbouring village might have a problem with the attitude. There are doubts whether players hailing from distant countries could build up a proper bond with the club. It is much more difficult for them for sure in comparison with local players. The local boys are influenced by the family tradition and so on. High quality foreign players are welcome everywhere. Those who are not better than local players should not be signed by the clubs. 

What would you comment on FK Senica struggling for the relegation, basically without fan support while there is often no Slovak in the line-up? 

If we talk about the Slovak FA rule regulating the league, article 47, paragraph 4, it is wrong, not precise. It should be amended as soon as possible. For instance, the wording from the Czech FA rules can be taken over. It should be formulated clearly. This can be done easily, there is no problem about that. It is necessary just to admit a mistake and go ahead with necessary amendment. The interpretation must be clear even in case ofdouble or triple citizenships. I am convinced that this problem and not ideal formulation should not have any legally effect for the games played. It would be in the contradiction with the fundamental principle of free movement of workers defined by the European law. The Bosman case as of December 1995 is a landmark case. It is pity that we do not have a clear wording after more than 20 years... 
(...)