Benitez waiting on Blatter plans
by Alex Livie, 13 May 2008
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has hinted he could be prepared to sell Jermaine Pennant and Peter Crouch if Fifa president Sepp Blatter loses his battle to introduce the "6+5 rule”.
Blatter is keen to curb the number of foreign players in the game by bringing in a rule to force clubs to field at least six home-grown players in a match.
The Fifa supremo is facing stiff opposition from European Union officials and as such clubs are adopting a watching brief.
Benitez is keen to reinforce his squad in the summer, which could spell the end for Crouch and Pennant, but the Spaniard is concerned his plans could be scuppered by Blatter.
"I feel the key is for the fans to see the best players on the pitch,” said Benitez. “It is clear - in the past you would talk about a lot of local players but all the teams want to sign players and the best players come from all over the world.
"We know what the rules are and we will try to do things whatever happens with Fifa."
Commenting on the speculation surrounding Crouch and Pennant, Benitez added:"I left them out of the squad as a tactical decision. The players are under contract and they are our players. We are waiting now.
"We know they have been playing well and a lot of clubs are interested in them so we will wait and see. But they are under contract."