Chinese Super League naturalised footballer limit would not help Marcello Lippi’s task of Qatar 2022 World Cup qualification
- Potential limit on players such as Elkeson and Nico Yennaris has been reported in local media
- Nine naturalised so far with reports that up to 50 are allowed by ‘relevant authorities’
Despite there being no games in the Chinese Super League this weekend, there was plenty to talk about. Chinese football reporter Bai Guohua – the journalist who announced that Gareth Bale was moving to Jiangsu Suning this summer before the deal eventually fizzled out – made sure of that.
Reports suggest that the CFA and CSL will introduce rule changes ahead of the new season relating to naturalised players and foreign footballers.
There is a suggestion that there will be a relaxing of the foreign player quota, allowing teams to register six and play four per game. Teams would also be allowed to play one naturalised player.
That has some people up in arms over the lack of opportunities for domestic players – with the combination of those five players, one local under-21 (reduced from under-23) and a goalkeeper, there are only four slots.
The argument is that the players who are selected will become better by the standard of football improving. That is what top scorer Eran Zahavi believes – and it has been seen in countless other leagues over the years.