I-League: Idea to increase foreign players draws frowns

PANAJI: The

All India Football Federation

(AIFF) will find it difficult to push through a proposal for an increase in the number of foreign players, championed by Kolkata clubs Mohun Bagan and

East Bengal

. During a meeting of I-League clubs last month, the Kolkata clubs were instrumental in asking the

AIFF

to double the number of registered foreign players from four to eight, five of whom including an Asian player can take the field at any point of time. There were murmurs that not everyone agreed to that proposal, and ahead of a crucial I-League Committee meeting in the Capital on Wednesday, five of the nine participating clubs -

Shillong Lajong FC

,

Aizawl FC

,

Neroca FC

,

Chennai City FC

and

Minerva Punjab FC

-have asked the AIFF to maintain status quo.

"While the

ISL

has made positive steps in reducing the number of foreigners allowed to play in the first eleven, it has come as an unfortunate development that there is a proposal to enhance the number of foreigners in the I-League," Shillong Lajong FC president Larsing Ming wrote in a letter to the AIFF on Tuesday.

Ming, also the AIFF vice-president, could not attend the meeting last month but in a strongly-worded letter to the AIFF asked to maintain status quo.

I-League champions Aizawl FC also want status quo to be maintained, while newcomers Neroca FC CEO Naoba Thangjam "strongly opposed" the idea of an increase in foreign players when the AIFF despatched minutes of the meeting. "We believe in nurturing and putting emphasis on our own local talent, so increasing the number of foreign players will only hamper opportunities for young talent," the club CEO said.

With five of the nine clubs against the idea of increasing the number, and clubs like Churchill Brot hers SC and DSK Shivajians not exactly rooting for an increase, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal are the only two clubs fighting for a change. For once, they might be left isolated and may not find favour with the I-League committee which meets under the chairmanship of AIFF VP Subrata Dutta. "We have realised that inclusion of more foreigners will only benefit the Kolkata clubs and no one else in the league," said Minerva Punjab FC CEO

Ranjit Bajaj

.

The outspoken Bajaj was the first to agitate against the proposed increase and has even threatened to pull out of the I-League if the plan fructifies. "I am here for the development of Indian football," said Bajaj.


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