Internet Desk: The AIFF Executive Committee have taken the final decision with regards to the number of foreign players in the upcoming Hero I-League 2017-18.
The clubs will be allowed to register 6 (six) foreign players out of which at least 2 (two) players have to be from an AFC member Association.
The clubs can field maximum 5 (five) foreign players in a match out of which minimum 1 (one) player has to be from an AFC Member Association.
Till last season, each club in the I-League was allowed to sign only four foreigners in their squad with one of them compulsory belonging to a country affiliated with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Meanwhile, ISL clubs from the coming season on can sign up to eight players of foreign origin and have no restrictions on the nationality of the player.
In a bid to attract sponsors and public to the I-League, a few clubs, noticeably the East Bengal and Mohun Bagan wanted the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to increase the number of foreigners in the league and had reportedly proposed to increase the number to eight.
The Executive Committee of the AIFF subsequently took heed of the clubs’ request and increased the cap to six foreigners per each side.