The Kolkata giants East Bengal and Mohun Bagan had been at the forefront for the demand to have five foreigners playing and eight in total in the I-League squads of 25 players just like has been decided by the Indian Super League.
But their I-League rivals are thinking otherwise with five clubs in Shillong Lajong FC, current champions Aizawl FC, Minerva Punjab FC, Chennai City FC, and promoted NEROCA FC having come together to jointly send a letter to the All India Football Federation to consider to keep the three plus one foreigners rule in the I-League in the interest of Indian talent development.
What the other clubs in Churchill Brothers SC and DSK Shivajians FC are thinking about it is unknown.
Now it will be interesting to see what decision the I-League Committee takes on this matter, then an increase wouldn’t be in the interest of Indian football but on the other side with the Indian Super League and I-league set to be played in parallel, there is a question if there are enough Indian footballers of quality to fill the squads.