Ilie could lose EU status

Romanian international forward Adrian Ilie faces the prospect of losing his status as a European Union player after a Valencia court overturned a previous ruling that granted him the same rights as players from EU countries.

Option of an appeal
The Valencia CF striker will not lose his status immediately, however, as he still has the option of appealing against the decision in the supreme court. Ilie, fellow Romanian Laurentiu Rosu of CD Numancia and RC Celta de Vigo's Russian international Valeri Karpin, were all granted EU status following court rulings in the last two years.

Part of the team
The players argued that special employment agreements between their countries and the EU meant that they could not be discriminated against because of nationality. The rulings meant that the players did not have to take up one of the limited number of places permitted for ‘foreigners’ at each Primera División club under Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) rules.

Cut down
This season the number of "foreign" players allowed at each club has been reduced from five to four, with three allowed on the pitch at any one time.