However, both Fifa and Uefa have rejected claims by Labour Euro MP Glyn Ford that the European football transfer scheme will have to be completely removed to comply with EU regulations.

Keith Cooper, communications director of world governing body Fifa, said: "We have the declaration from Nice on December 6 which acknowledges that sport, and football in particular, needs to be dealt with as a special case. That's what these discussions with the EC are all about."

Gordon Taylor, head of the international players' organisation FIFPRO, was also due to take part in the Brussels talks and he was disappointed at the postponement.

He said: "It is disappointing because I was optimistic we could sort things out."

Ford based his claims on a parliamentary answer from the EU's social affairs commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou which said that "free movement applies to all EU citizens of minimum age, including those involved in sport".

Ford said: "Whatever the arguments football makes, there cannot be a distinction between younger and older players. That makes any attempt to replace the transfer scheme with a compensation for younger players illegal."

However, the fact that three commissioners - for culture, social affairs and competition - have all insisted on the need to recognise the special position of sport means that talks with Fifa, Uefa and FIFPRO will continue.

Uefa communications director Mike Lee insisted more talks would be held between all parties later this month once Uefa officials had had a chance to digest a letter from Fifa suggesting a different approach to finding a compromise.

Lee said: "Fifa has produced a new document which has been made available at relatively short notice and we have to consider the document and also discuss it with the European leagues."

Fifa say that while they are not changing their proposals aimed at salvaging the transfer fee system - including a ban on transfers of players under 18 and compensation to clubs which have invested in training players aged between 18 and 24 when they move on - they have suggested a different strategy for implementing those plans.

There is still a sticking point over what happens to players who want to switch clubs but do not have the consent of their employer.

Uefa say such players should have to wait three years before they can join another team, a move designed to protect clubs and competitions from the disruption.

But EU culture commissioner Viviane Reding has described the idea as "crazy", warning it could leave the Commission open to challenge in the European Court of Justice.