How will the new 'four foreigners in XI' rule affect ISL clubs?

The league recently announced that from the 2021-22 season, only four overseas signings can be a part of the playing XI of ISL clubs.

From the upcoming 2021-22 season of the Indian Super League (ISL), it will become mandatory for all clubs to follow the 'four foreign players in XI' rule. The rule means that only a total of four overseas signings - which may or may not include Asian players - can be a part of the playing XI of ISL teams, at any given point of time during matches.

Additionally, the number of foreigners allowed in the overall squad has also been brought down to six from seven, that was allowed until last season. 

The 'four foreigners in XI' rule implies that seven Indian players need to be there on the pitch at any given time. As a result, it might well be a welcome boost in the development of domestic talents. Today, Khel Now goes through how this new mandate might affect the clubs, in detail. Read on.

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1. Reduces dependence on foreign players

Despite India having a sizeable number of youngsters coming through, ISL clubs rely more on foreigners to improve their squad's overall quality. The number of Indian centre-backs and strikers that start regularly in the league can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

Apart from Sunil Chhetri and William Lalnunfela, no other Indian striker played more than 500 minutes in the ISL last season. This, coupled with the fact that clubs generally prefer foreigners at the heart of the defence, has affected the quality of Indian players in those positions.

The spine of most teams in the league is filled by foreigners i.e. the technical midfielders, centre-backs and the strikers. This reliance on non-Indians has left us bereft of options to fill in these roles for the national team. If you look at it in detail, India have plenty of good options in the full-back and wide forward positions. There has also been an improvement among runners in midfield and goalkeepers. These are the spots taken up by Indians usually in the ISL and hence, the Indian Football Team is also well-stocked in these positions and roles.

The new rule means more Indian talents will get space and time to flourish. More importantly, we'll also be able to see a fresh batch of talent with more technical ability, centre-backs better on the ball or even strikers emerge in the next few years.

2. More trust in youth, more investments in staff and training facilities

The new rule also forces Indian clubs to concentrate more on youth development. This is where Hyderabad FC stand at an advantage over other clubs. They are well ahead of the curve when it comes to giving chances to youngsters.

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In short, the 'four foreigners in XI' rule means Indian clubs will need to invest more in youth. Giving youngsters a pathway by creating an environment that aids their development and having coaching staff that elevate their performances would be a necessity. This, in turn means that youth facilities will not be the only things upgraded here. The clubs would hire better coaches and build training facilities too. The likes of Odisha FC and Kerala Blasters, who have a solid Indian core would benefit from this move. 

There would be more imports from the I-League and reduced dependency on foreign players. It would certainly be tough to cope with the changes initially, but the long-term benefits for both clubs and the country will be unmatched. 

3. Clubs may be forced to alter their recruitment strategy

ATK Mohun Bagan have splashed a lot of money on foreign imports in the last few years. Their most recent overseas signing is Finnish international midfielder Joni Kauko, who recently represented his country at UEFA EURO 2020. However, the new rule may force them to reconsider their foreign recruitment strategy. They have the largest foreign contingent among ISL clubs and it will be interesting to see how they are used in the coming season. 

Bengaluru FC, on the other hand, have started their Indian recruitment excellently by signing Bidyashagar Singh from TRAU FC. Bidyashagar is thought to be India’s next big striker, having put up impressive numbers for the northeast outfit in I-League 2020-21.

4. May improve performances at continental level

The 'four foreigners in XI' rule change is similar to the '3+1' rule that is already in place in AFC club tournaments. The only difference is regarding the presence of an Asian name in the XI. While it is compulsory in AFC competitions, it is not in the ISL - at least in the upcoming 2021-22 season.

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Therefore, this new rule will help the clubs find the right balance of players in these tournaments. This is quite important because the number of slots India is getting has been increasing steadily recently.

In these situations, clubs will start thinking long-term too. They would know the importance of Indian players and would require Indians to elevate their level - not only in the ISL but in Asian competitions too.

Conclusion

The 'four foreigners in XI' rule is a great start in our quest to maximize the talent we have. It will force clubs to elevate their training methods and invest in technology and staff to enhance the club’s performances on the pitch. This will also help Indian players by giving them more chances to prove their worth.

The rule can be a major success if all these aspects are worked upon.

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