AIFF Foreigner Ban: AIFF Meeting: All India Football Federation’s ban on Foreign players in the lower league have inccurred some mixed reaction. While the step looks very promising in the grassroots development of home grown and domestic talent, it has arisen the quastion of viewership for a few FAs. Indian Football Assiciation (IFA), the West Bengal State FA is one to have open voiced concerns over the guidelines over the rule. Follow AIFF and Indian Football Team LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN
AIFF Foreigner Ban: AIFF BANS Foreign Players in Lower Leagues, Teams to compete…
The All India Football Federation Executive Committee will no longer allow foreigners (both men and women) to compete in any category of local, district, or state leagues in India beginning with the following season. Previously, the federation barred international players from competing in the I-League 2nd Division. The same was confirmed in a statement sent by AIFF Ex Co. to its member groups.
. @IFABengal secretary on AIFF barring foreigners from state leagues-
“We run the league on our own expenses. We’ve to talk to our sponsors. The decision (to ban foreigners) doesn’t fall under the purview of AIFF. It can only be considered guidance.”#IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/NLZe8nQXBR
— VOIF (@VoiceofIndianF1) April 29, 2023
However, the IFA Secretary voiced his concerns over the viewership and sponsorships given the guidelines are implemented. Acknowledging the good vision of AIFF over the decision, the Secretary was quoted saying:
“We run the league on our own expenses. We’ve to talk to our sponsors. The decision (to ban foreigners) doesn’t fall under the purview of AIFF. It can only be considered guidance.”. However, he added that given the Indian players are able to replicate the competitiveness, the viewership will remain unaffected.
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But two weeks after the All India Football Federation (AIFF) executive committee decided to forbid foreign players from participating in State competitions, it has made a special exception for the new Kerala Super League, which will begin play in November.
“Yes, they have been given an exemption because of the prior commercial deal they have signed to start the Kerala Super League.”
“We don’t want them to rescind an agreement made earlier and we don’t want to jeopardise any commercial deal,” Shaji Prabhakaran, the secretary general of the AIFF, told Sportstar.
The national coach, Igor Stimac, has proposed reducing the amount of foreign players participating in the ISL and I-League to give himself a broader player pool. Hmar, who is credited with sparking the Mizoram football revolution, had remarked that there aren’t enough opportunities for Indians and suggested starting at a lesser level. The panel has recommended to the AIFF executive committee that all state competitions be played without foreign players in order to encourage more indigenous players to participate.
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