private Element getVacantPlayers(Connection connection, Element element) {
        Game game = freeColServer.getGame();
        if (freeColServer.getGameState()
            == FreeColServer.GameState.STARTING_GAME) {
            return null;
        }

        Element reply = DOMMessage.createMessage("vacantPlayers");
        Document doc = reply.getOwnerDocument();
        for (Player player : game.getPlayers()) {
            if (!player.isDead()
                && player.isEuropean()
                && !player.isREF()
                && (!((ServerPlayer)player).isConnected() || player.isAI())) {
                Element playerElement = doc.createElement("player");
                playerElement.setAttribute("username", player.getName());
                reply.appendChild(playerElement);
            }
        }
        return reply;
    }