The Premier League have defended their brand after the head of European football blamed too many foreigners in the top flight for England's failure to progress in the World Cup.

Lennart Johansson, UEFA president and FIFA vice-president, said home-grown talent at the highest level of club football were being stifled.

Johansson said: "The fact is that the big clubs in Europe are buying foreign players and don't give the opportunity to the home-produced players.

"The club football in the Premier League in England is at his highest possible level. I am not criticising that. But I prefer the old system where you had a maximum of five players from abroad. It gave a balance. We are trying hard to change this but it is not easy."

But a Premier League spokesman responded: "The league as a whole and its clubs are committed to producing home-grown players.

"We have invested millions of pounds in the academy set-up in coaching and technical development.

"These players may then have a chance to play alongside the best - and the fans want to see the best players wherever they are from.

"That can surely only help those players to compete on the World Cup stage."

Johannson wants to see a return to some sort of limit on the number for foreign players but accepts that is not easy under European labour laws.

UEFA have passed rules that will eventually ensure club squads of 25 contain eight home-grown players - but of any nationality - though at the moment that will only apply to European competition.

Frank Clark, vice-chairman of the League Managers' Association, believes that is the correct procedure.

He said: "This would be a step in the right direction for there needs to be restrictions for the benefit of English football.

"There is a real worry that not enough good players are coming through.

"If you look at the Under-21 squad, a number of players were from the Championship and some even from League One and that is no disrespect to anyone.

"Look at the England goalkeeping situation, only Paul Robinson and David James are in the top flight and that must be a concern."

But Clark added: "I do not think England's failure in the World Cup was due to the number of foreigners playing in the Premier League.

"England have enough top-class players to enable them to progress."