Africans in Spain not non-EU

African footballers playing in Spain and the Primera Liga will no longer occupy one of the foreign player berths at La Liga clubs after a change in regulations approved by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

The RFEF gave the green light to the change after consulting with FIFA and UEFA following inquiries by Real Madrid and Getafe as to whether their African players could be treated as European Union workers in accordance with an agreement signed in 2000.

At present Primera Liga clubs are limited to three non-European Union players registered in their squads, but the new move will free up a number of places occupied by Africans.

"From now on players from these countries that play in Spain will be considered as coming from the European Union as will those that sign in the future," RFEF spokesman Jorge Carretero was quoted as saying in sports daily Marca on Saturday.