ROME The Italian Football Federation have scrapped all restrictions limiting the number of non-European Union (EU) players that clubs can field in the Serie A.

The federation's federal court said on Friday the decision had immediate effect -- meaning that clubs could field as many foreigners as they wish in today's games.

According to Reuters, Serie A clubs had been allowed to register five non-EU players, of whom only three were allowed to play in a given match.

However, the court have also asked Italy's Olympic Committee to look into the issue of non-EU players and the national identity of Italian football.

The previous restrictions had led to a number of South American players qualifying as "EU players" after gaining passports on the basis of European ancestry.

A number of Serie A clubs including Inter Milan, Udinese and AC Milan face possible fines and suspensions for allegedly playing footballers with false passports.