The ministry added that it could force players, referees and officials to stay in a safe “biobubble” when coronavirus cases take off “to allow the event to operate safely and continue.” With respect to warnings and suspensions, the AFC Executive Committee has also ratified the proposal of the AFC Competition Committee to amend the rule on automatic bans so that a player is banned only for the next game of the relevant competition after receiving a warning in three (3) separate games of the same competition, rather than in two (2) matches. The administration of the FTA will begin further research on the subject before determining the next steps in implementation. The new number for foreigners has not yet been set — 4+2 or 5+1 or 5+2 have been approved by the AFC`s competition and technical committees — and a decision will be made next year, the press release said. But the AFC Executive Committee waived the 3+1 rule from 2022. The AFC now stipulates that from next season, any number of foreigners can be registered “on the basis of the registration rules of the national league”. This means that Indian clubs that qualify for the AFC Cup and asian Champions League will have to register new foreigners to participate in these competitions from 2023 if the new rule is implemented. Until last season, ISL clubs had to do the opposite. In the ISL, a maximum of five imports were allowed, while the rule in AFC competitions was 3+1. India`s top league and AFC will only be on an equal footing for Asian competitions in 2022.
The Asian Football Confederation said it has decided to allow each ACL team to field a maximum of four foreign players, one of whom must be from an Asian country. “We conducted a talent search across the kingdom and produced 25 players, and coach Kabir Khan did a good job coaching the boys,” said Tariq Ziad Sagga, CEO of the Saudi Cricket Federation (SACF). “The team has an average age of under 17 and we are counting on them to be part of future national teams.” “While the current quota of 3 plus 1 will continue to apply for the 2022 season, the Committee has agreed to lift the 3 plus 1 cap on the number of foreign players admitted to provisional registration and pave the way for the registration of any number of foreign players based on domestic registration rules.” said the AFC. This is different from the Indian Super League rules, which aim to allow teams to stock up on the services of up to seven foreign players, five of whom can be on the field. This rule applied in the ISL until this season, and India`s top league will follow the AFC`s verdict from next season. This has led the Saudi Arabian Football Association (SAFF) to propose that Champions League teams register the same number of foreign players for continental matches as those allowed at home. The motion was passed unanimously in Kuala Lumpur, and although the decision needs to be ratified by the AFC Executive Committee, it is expected to be a formality. For national teams, this means that the workload of the players spreads out and gives nations the opportunity to better prepare for major competitions and thus achieve better results.
“The Saudi Football Federation`s proposal to increase the number of foreign players in the Asian Cup will alleviate contractual problems with players,” SAFF Secretary General Ibrahim Al-Kassim said, adding that the move would align Asia with all major football associations in the world. “Only the Asian Confederation and the Oceania Confederation set a limit on foreign players, and the top 20 international ranking teams allow their country an open number of foreign players.” Currently, each team in the continental competition can only register four foreign players in its team under the “3 plus 1” rule, which means that three imports can come from anywhere in the world and one from another Asian nation. With 11 leagues across the continent allowing more imports for their domestic competitions – including the Saudi Professional League, which has a full quota of seven – the AFC rule has increasingly become a point of contention. It is obvious that this rule is intended to force teams to focus on the development of Indian players. But FC Goa will face Al Rayyan tomorrow at the Fatorda Stadium, a Qatari Super League team currently coached by Laurent Blanc, the former French coach, who is filled to the brim with stars who are most likely going to the World Cup.