Mumbai: The Indian Super League from its inception was determined bringing Indian footballers to the much needed limelight bringing them platform to grow. Fast forward seven years, ahead of the 2021-22 season, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) decided to make a few changes to rules of the league in order to develop the sports as a whole.
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The most notable one is the increase of minimum Indian players in the starting XI to seven and that too at any given point on the field by sacrificing a foreign recruit. Besides that, FSDL also stated to continue having two players from the developmental side which pretty much indicates handing opportunity to the budding home grown players.
“Since the inception of ISL, there has been constant progression, innovation, and focus to develop Indian football. The latest changes in player guidelines are incorporated with the League’s philosophy of bringing constant improvement to India’s premier football event. The inaugural 2014 season had witnessed a playing composition of 6 foreigners and 5 Indian players. Over the years, the League has gradually increased the spots for Indian players, with ISL 2017-18 having a mandate of a minimum of 6 Indian players on the field, which now has been further increased to 7 for the 2021-22 season,” stated an ISL official release.
Increase of 🇮🇳 players in Playing XI 📝
Total squad size 🔢
Salary cap 💰All you need to know about the new regulations for #HeroISL 2021-22 #LetsFootball https://t.co/V8YSp7GI6n
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) June 8, 2021
“Starting this season, FSDL will mandate clubs to increase their development player signing from a minimum of two to four, while continuing to have two of such development players be part of the match-day squad. The League witnessed a significant improvement in the performance of developmental players last season with the likes of Akash Mishra, Apuia, Jeakson Singh, Rahul KP, Asish Rai, etc. delivering breakthrough performances underlining the testament to the growth of young footballers in India.” The release further stated.
So as of now, each club can sign a maximum of six foreigners and one of whom will have to be from the Asian confederation as per AFC rules which state this requirement to become the member nation of the confederation. A maximum of four players will feature on the match day while an option for signing a marquee player will be there. In total, A club can have a maximum of 35 players in their squad with 3 registered goalkeepers. However, they can also have an injury replacement for an Indian player (maximum 35 registered players). The squad salary cap though remains at 16.5 crore rupees for the upcoming season.
