AIFF rethink on 5-foreigner quota, seeks associations' views

New Delhi, Oct 23 (PTI) Opposition from the national
football coach Bob Houghton and captain Bhaichung Bhutia has
led to a rethink by the All India Football Federation (AIFF)
on the five-foreigner quota in the I-League and it has also
sought views of state associations on the issue.
The AIFF had allowed each I-League club to recruit five
foreigners, including an Asian and a People of Indian Origin,
from this season which had come for criticism from both
Houghton and Bhutia on the ground that the rule reduced the
pool of Indian players in the league.
Houghton had made it clear during the Annual General Body
Meeting of the AIFF on October 20 here that the five-foreigner
rule would only harm the interests of Indian players. He was
particularly unimpressed by the PIO quota.
Bhutia also felt the five-foreigner rule was an oversees
player too many, which will only reduce the number of Indians
in the I-League.
He said, after his felicitation by the AIFF for playing
100 international matches, that the Asian player quota,
mandatory under Asian Football Confederation rules for clubs
playing in the AFC Champions League, would not benefit a
football developing country like India.
AIFF General Secretary Alberto Colaco has written a
letter to all the state associations to furnish their views
before the end of next month. MORE PTI PDS
ANU


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