Five clubs who will be part of the I-League 2017-’18 season have written to the All India Football Federation opposing the new rule regarding the number of foreign players in a team.

Reigning champions Aizawl, Chennai City, Minerva Punjab, Shillong Lajong and newcomers NEROCA have written in to the federation asking for the proposal to be scrapped.

Post a meeting between club officials and the AIFF in Delhi last week, some of the teams had floated a proposal to increase the number of foreigners in I-League squads from four to eight: from a mixture of three foreigners of any nationality and one additional recruit from Asian Football Confederation-affiliated countries to six and two with the same restrictions respectively.

On the pitch, it was proposed that five foreigners, including one AFC recruit, could be a part of the starting XI, the same rules that have been drafted by ISL clubs this year.

Minerva’s owner Ranjit Bajaj has been very vocal on social networking platform Twitter about the new rules and has opposed the new rule.

Chennai City’s letter to the AIFF states:

“We, Chennai City FC, would like to express our vehement denial and consolidated stance in opposition to the proposal of 5+3 foreigners as put forth for consideration on the I-League clubs meeting on 30th June 2017 at the AIFF Football House.

As a club we have always based our existence and philosophy in focused growth on a strong grassroots system and development of talented local players. In our one year of existence in the I-League we have introduced as many as six players into the first team from in and around Tamil Nadu while being competitive in games and a respectable finish in the table. It must be noted that none of these six players had played in the I-League or Indian Super League prior to this season. More I-League clubs such as Minerva, Shillong Lajong and Aizawl have also successfully adopted and implemented such a model.

Introduction of such a rule (eight foreigners) is a drastic step to seriously hamper the progress of our upcoming players who will have their slots taken by foreigners in such a scenario as proposed. Also, it will hamper our clubs long term vision which is ultimately to give a platform to players from the state of Tamil Nadu to make it to the National League....”

The letter goes on to state that any change in the foreigner rule will make team balance very uneven and limit the chances for Indian players. Aizawl owner Robert Royte was also very clear in this regard. “I have written into the federation opposing this,” he said. “For us, it is very important as we are going to play the upcoming Asian Champions League. Hence, it is important that we retain the same rules.”

Officials from the AFC, also in a meeting with AIFF officials on Tuesday, stressed on the need for more home-grown players, saying that at least 80% of the squad should be Indians. The League Committee, in a meeting on Wednesday, will deliberate on whether all proposals, including the amendment in the foreigners rule, will be accepted.