New Delhi: Mohun Bagan have requested the All India Football Federation to review its decision of allowing clubs to field all six registered foreigners in the playing XI for Super Cup.
In its communique on registration guidelines to the 16 clubs who have consented to play in the tournament that is scheduled to start on October 25, the AIFF has said “each participating club may register up to 6 foreign players and may start a match with all six foreign players”.
It is a continuation of AIFF’s policy adopted in the last couple of years for the competition that guarantees an Asian Champions League 2 play-offs spot for the winning side.
But as it robs home-grown players of game time, which AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey attributed to the Indian national team’s lack of goals in competitive international fixtures, Bagan want installation of the four-foreigner in playing XI rule prevalent in the Indian Super League.
“We have concern with 6 foreign players starting games in Super Cup. We have always spoken about giving more chances to Indian players in national tournaments, allowing all 6 foreign players to start in Cup tournament considerably derails the objective,” Bagan wrote.
“We would request AIFF to reconsider the same and allow only 4 foreign players to start like it is done in League tournament.”
Keeping in mind the AIFF’s stance of finding avenues to provide more game-time for home-grown players, Bagan had earlier requested the season-opening Durand Cup to be made an all-domestic affair.
The proposal though wasn’t considered as Golden Boot winner Alaaeddine Ajaraie’s eight goals helped NorthEast United become the club since East Bengal in 1991 to defend the Durand Cup successfully.
Draw on Thursday
The federation has designated defending champions FC Goa and ISL champions Bagan as the top two seeded teams for Super Cup and will conduct a draw of lots on Thursday, and have placed the other 10 ISL teams in Pot 1 and four I-League teams in Pot 2.
The clubs have been informed to register a maximum of 30 players and 15 officials by October 20. Save Odisha FC, 12 ISL clubs and Inter Kashi, Real Kashmir, Gokulam Kerala and Rajasthan United from I-League will be part of the draw.