‘Bosman’ takes on domino effect

Date: 08/02/1996

By Michael Mann

THE aftershocks of the Bosman case are shaking the foundations of one of the world's very oldest sports - chess.

Controversy has erupted in the German Chess Association (DSB) in the wake of a decision to turn Dresden SC's narrow 4.5-3.5 victory over Turm Duisburg into an 8-0 win when it was discovered that Duisburg had fielded their two Russian stars alongside Englishman John Nunn.

Concerned at the damage the result could do to its 'goal difference', Duisburg has demanded the lifting of the DSB rule limiting each team to two foreigners.

Club president Klaus Ulrich Groth has pointed to the precedent set by last December's European Court of Justice verdict on the Bosman case, which forbids football clubs from limiting the number of foreigners who can turn out for a team, either in national or international events.

Meanwhile, other sports have been trying - unsuccessfully - to hide behind the smokescreen thrown up by UEFA's (Union of European Football Associations) efforts to preserve existing rules on the number of foreigners soccer teams can field in European competitions.

The European Commission last week refused to bow to calls for French rugby union star Philippe Sella to be barred from playing for the London club Saracens as soon as he has signed his new contract.

The International Rugby Football Board had tried to uphold its right to impose residency qualifications on players, which would have forced Sella to wait 180 days before wearing the Saracens colours.

The Commission says this is illegal and constitutes a restraint of trade, as the rugby union now allows players to be paid. Even the English Rugby Football Union's attempt to make players live in the country for just a week before becoming eligible for selection looks like being deemed illegal.

Back in Germany, purists are concerned about the knock-on effect of the Bosman ruling on yet another well-established sport of gentlemen. One German wrestling team is facing the prospect of being represented in competition by a Russian, two German-born Turks and seven Swedes.

Meanwhile, UEFA is thought to be preparing for a climb-down in its battle with the Commission over how the Bosman judgement should be interpreted.

It is expected to admit that its defence is weak and agree that the ruling must apply at all levels of competition.

Association officials are understood to have concluded that they have no choice but to retreat after a face-to-face meeting with Commissioners Karel Van Miert and Pádraig Flynn last week.

The Commission has warned UEFA that it faces the prospect of punishing fines if it does not agree to abide by the ruling within the next four weeks.