The All India Football Federation (AIFF) looks to tread a path similar to Bangladesh to classify South Asian players as domestic players soon.
Currently, both the I-League and the Indian Super League allow six foreigners to be registered in their teams, while only four can be on the field at a time.
If the proposal is accepted, players from the SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) countries — Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka — will not be considered as foreigners.
The Bangladesh Football Federation allowed South Asian players to register as locals in the Bangladesh Premier League last month.
A similar idea was proposed by Kalyan Chaubey, the AIFF president, in a SAFF meeting last year. With a neighbouring country already implementing the plan, there is growing belief that India could follow suit.
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The regulation will open the door for players like Chencho Gyeltsen— Bhutan’s captain, a two-time I-League and ISL winner— and Jamal Bhuyan— Bangladesh’s captain, who has played for Mohammedan Sporting in his last stint in India — to play as domestic players.
Though it will allow clubs to field more foreigners, Indian players are bound to bear the brunt of the move.
What about I-League relegation and the MRA?
The EC is still awaiting clarity on both I-League relegation and the Master Rights Agreement (MRA), with decisions expected by July 18.
Both clubs at the bottom of the I-League, Sporting Club Bengaluru and Delhi FC, bound for relegation, had challenged their position in the league to the AIFF Appeals Committee earlier this year.
As a result, the Committee put relegation on hold on May 28. As of July 2, both clubs have had hearings with the Committee, and a decision is expected in the next week.
Sportstar understands that Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the body that runs the ISL, submitted a draft MRA for the league’s future to the AIFF in March. The new draft proposed the following share: AIFF: 14%, FSDL: 26% and the ISL clubs: 60%.
The Federation, however, replied in April with a counter proposal of continuing the old MRA with some changes — AIFF would get ₹ 50 crore and a five per cent increase every year — which was initially rejected by FSDL.
Soon, the Supreme Court ruled that the AIFF must not take any further decision on the MRA until the apex court decides on the AIFF constitution.
Content Source: sportstar.thehindu.com