ISL approves four foreign players regulation from 2021-22 season

Kolkata, July 6 (IANS) The Indian Super League (ISL) will have 3+1 foreign player regulation for their matches from the eighth season in 2021-22, it was approved on Monday. The decision was taken during a Football Sports Development Ltd. (FSDL) meeting attended by its chairperson Nita Ambani.

The new regulations of 3+1 foreign players are as per Asian Football Confederation competition guidelines.

From the eighth edition, an ISL club would be able to sign a maximum of six foreigners in the squad including a compulsory Asian origin player, with four foreigners on the field.

“This will give Indian players more game time and the ISL has always promoted Indian footballers. Even in the 2020-2021 season, each club is mandated to have two developmental players born in or after 2000 in the squad of 18 for each match,” a source privy to developments in the meeting told IANS.

As reported by IANS earlier, the ISL, from this season, has made it mandatory for its participating clubs to have one Asian international player in their squad from the upcoming 2020-21 season.

The ISL will still have five foreigners on the pitch but from this season there will also be one Asian player in the squad.

Further, each club will have a minimum squad of 25 and a maximum of 35 from next season. Till last term, the squad size was maximum of 25 players, but with an eye on helping more youngsters get an opportunity, it has been increased.

A minimum of five and maximum of seven international players can be signed by a club including the Asian recruit. Each club can have a minimum of 18 and maximum of 30 domestic players.

In May, the AIFF’s executive committee implemented the ‘3 (foreigners) + 1 (Asian) recruit rule’ for I-League matches from 2020-21 season.

–IANS

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