Clubs can field six foreigners for Super Cup

Panaji: The All India Football Federation (

AIFF

) has told participating clubs that they will be allowed to field as many as six foreign players in their starting line-ups for the Kalinga

Super Cup

.
The Super Cup is scheduled to be held next month in

Odisha

and clubs will miss their national team players who will be busy with India’s engagement in the Asian Cup 2023.

Several clubs would have been weakened, prompting AIFF to allow clubs to register and play six foreign players.
“In case more than five foreign participating players are selected, then at least one of these players must hold the nationality of a member association of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC),” the AIFF said in a statement on Thursday.

The AIFF said the decision was also taken in view of the fact that winners of the Super Cup will qualify for the AFC Champions League 2 2024-25. As per the new AFC club competitions regulations, each participating club can select up to six foreign players in their starting line-ups.
In the Indian Super League (

ISL

) and I-League, clubs are allowed to register six foreigners but only four can be on the field at any given point of time.

The Super Cup will start across two venues in Odisha from January 9. All 12 ISL clubs have been seeded directly into the main draw while four I-League clubs will complete the lineup.
According to sources, Sreenidi Deccan, Gokulam Kerala FC and Shillong Lajong will qualify directly while the fourth spot will be decided through a playoff between Inter Kashi and Rajasthan United FC.
“AIFF had asked all I-League teams to confirm their interest in the Super Cup and only five responded. Among the five, Rajasthan United have sought subsidy to participate. If the AIFF does not agree, then the remaining four teams will qualify directly,” said another source.
A total of 16 teams will be divided into four groups of four clubs each. The winners of each group will qualify for the semi-finals, followed by the final on January 28.
The draw for the tournament will be held on Monday.
..