ISL likely to implement new changes from next season: Report

Some previous rules are set to be scrapped.

The 2023-24 Indian Super League (ISL) season saw Mumbai City FC clinch their second ISL title while Mohun Bagan secured their first ISL league shield. Both sides were very consistent and strong throughout the campaign and emerged as deserving winners.

With the 10th edition done and dusted, the league has started its preparations for the upcoming season. And to begin with, the league has planned to introduce a few major changes to the coach and player recruitment guidelines.

The biggest change could be the omission of signing an Asian quota player among the six foreign players that the clubs can sign. In the last few seasons, the organizers had made it mandatory for all the ISL clubs to include at least one player  from a member association of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

According to the Times of India (TOI), the league has informed the clubs about the change of policies. “There is no formal communication from ISL about the changes, but clubs have been informally informed about the ‘tentative possible changes’ for next season,” a source who has been tracking the development told TOI on Sunday. 

“From the 2024-25 season, AFC has allowed teams to register an unlimited number of foreign players who can play in the Champions League. There is no Asian quota anymore and several countries will announce changes.”

Other changes

While the possible omission of the Asian player rule comes in a sigh of relief for all clubs, there are two more changes that the league can possibly implement. The organizers are also eager to raise the salary cap from Rs 16.5 crore to Rs 18 crore apart from two players from each club beyond the salary cap.

Until last season, only the signing of a marquee player was not subject to the salary cap, but with the guidelines now being changed, the clubs can splash as much money as they want without thinking about the salary cap.

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