AIFF approves new rules for Indian Super League 2016

Margao, Sep 26: The All India Football Federation's (AIFF) Executive Committee on Monday approved new rules for the Indian Super League (ISL) which will take effect from the upcoming season of the lucrative tournament. [Full list of squads for ISL 2016] [Full schedule of ISL 2016]

According to the new rules, the payments made by franchisees towards marquee players will be outside the salary cap of Rs 17.5 crore for the entire squad.

This effectively means that franchises can now spend any amount of marquee players depending on their resources.

The salary cap itself has been reduced from last year's Rs 21 crore.

The trend of marquee player also acting as coach will also be discontinued this year. The rules state that if a marquee player is also appointed as head coach, then the franchise will have to sign another marquee player.

The committee was also apprised on the developments in the Indian team updates by national coach Stephen Constantine which was followed by India U-17 team coach Nicolai Adam providing updates about the preparations for the U-17 World Cup.

The new dates for the Santosh Trophy were finalized and the final round will finish by January 10 next year.

Meanwhile, the AIFF's Annual General Meeting for the elections will be held in December while the federation's special general body meeting will be held in January next year.

The committee also congratulated reigning I-League champions Bengaluru FC for their performance in the ongoing AFC Cup and wished them luck for the semi-finals where they play Malaysia's Johor Darul Tazim.

I-League CEO Sunando Dhar briefed the Committee about the league updates which kicks-off on January 7, next year. Keeping in mind the good performances of Aizawl FC in the last edition, the committee unanimously decided to give them a ticket to play in the 2016-17 edition.

The meeting was chaired by AIFF President Praful Patel. AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das, and Vice-Presidents Subrata Dutta, K.M.I. Mather, Shrinivas Dempo, and Subhash Chopra were also present.

India coach Constantine, AIFF Technical Director Scott O'Donnell, Technical Committee chairman Bhaichung Bhutia, India U-17 head coach Nicolai Adam, AIFF's scouting director Abhishek Yadav, FIFA U-17 World Cup tournament director Javier Ceppi, and India 2017 and U-17 World Cup project director Joy Bhattacharya were also present on the occasion.

IANS