New Delhi: Despite objection from some top clubs, the All India Football Federation on Thursday decided to put the cap on the number of matches a player can play in domestic tournaments, including the I-League, to 40.
The decision, which aims at keeping the number of matches a player can play in local leagues to the minimum, would hit hard big clubs like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Dempo and Churchill Brothers.
It would reduce the number of matches their top players can play in the local league which, in turn, would affect the crowd presence.
Earlier, there was no limit on the number of matches a player can play but the Asian Football Confederation has been telling for some time that I-League players should not play in local leagues.
The federation, however, kept the foreign players out of the 40-match rule. The decision has been ratified by the AIFF Executive Committee.
“I-League Players other than Foreign Players cannot play more than 40 Domestic Club Matches for this season,” an AIFF statement said.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Domestic Club Matches include I-League, Federation Cup, Durand Cup, IFA Shield, Local Leagues and other AIFF approved tournaments but does not include International club tournaments,” it said.
The AIFF also had a second thought on its initial plan to cut down the number of foreigners and allowed clubs to register four overseas players — but stipulated that only three can play in a match.
The executive committee of the AIFF ratified the decisions of the Actions Group, which had proposed that clubs be allowed to register three overseas and one player from Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which also includes Australia, in all domestic tournaments and the I-League. The 3+1 rule was adopted by the AFC a couple of years ago for all club tournaments in the continent.
Curiously, the AIFF said if a player takes field for less than 45 minutes in an I-League match, he can play in the local league that follows it. “Any I-League Player who plays for less than 45 minutes in any I-League match during the season shall be eligible to play the immediately following Local League Match if any, during the season,” the AIFF said. (Agencies)
