Latest news with #foreignplayers
The Sun
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
South Korea lift bizarre little-known 26-year ban on signing foreign goalkeepers
A 26-YEAR ban on foreign goalkeepers in South Korea's top soccer league has been lifted effective from the start of the 2026 season. Only Korean goalkeepers have been allowed to play in the K League, the oldest professional domestic league in Asia since 1999. 2 2 The rule was originally introduced to protect homegrown talent when there were only 10 professional clubs. Following a board meeting in Seoul this week, the K League announced that with 26 professional clubs now competing across the top two tiers, there's enough room to accommodate international goalkeepers. The increase in the number of clubs means there are sufficient opportunities for domestic goalkeepers to play, even with the inclusion of foreigners. The board said in a statement: 'Starting in 2026 clubs will be permitted to register foreign goalkeepers. "The K League previously restricted their participation beginning in 1996 and introduced a full ban in 1999. "To encourage the development of domestic goalkeepers as most clubs at the time relied on foreign players in the position. "We have considered the fact that, with foreign player registrations restricted, the salary increase rate of domestic goalkeepers has risen disproportionately compared to outfield players.' There have reportedly been concerns over a shortage of quality keepers in the country due in part to the expanded size of modern rosters which typically include three or four goalkeepers. The decision to lift the ban is now expected to directly increase the number of foreign players in the K League. The move also brings the K League in line with other major Asian leagues, such as those in Japan, Saudi Arabia, and China. Iraq striker Aymen Hussein SENT OFF for bizarre grass-eating celebration after goal in Asian Cup Another rule that was introduced last season was a homegrown classification for youth players of foreign nationality who have spent a significant period developing in South Korea. If a foreign player has been registered with a domestic amateur team for three consecutive years, or a total of five years, before signing their first professional contract, they are now classified as a domestic player and will not occupy a foreign player slot.
South China Morning Post
14 hours ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
South Korea lifts 26-year ban on foreign goalkeepers in the K League
A 26-year ban on foreign goalkeepers in South Korea's top football league has been lifted for the start of the 2026 season. Only Korean goalkeepers have been allowed to play in the K League, the oldest professional domestic league in Asia, since 1999. The rule was introduced in a bid to protect homegrown talent when there were only 10 professional clubs. The K League announced after a board meeting in Seoul this week that because there were now 26 professional clubs in the top two tiers of competition, there was enough room for international goalkeepers. 'The increase in the number of clubs means that there are enough opportunities for domestic goalkeepers to play even if foreign goalkeepers are allowed,' the board said in a statement. 'We considered the fact that with foreign player registrations restricted, the salary increase rate of domestic goalkeepers has increased disproportionately to outfield players.' There were reportedly concerns, because of the increased size of modern rosters which contain three or four goalkeepers, that there was a shortage of quality keepers in the country.
Associated Press
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
South Korea lifts 26-year ban on foreign goalkeepers in the K League
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A 26-year ban on foreign goalkeepers in South Korea's top soccer league has been lifted for the start of the 2026 season. Only Korean goalkeepers have been allowed to play in the K League, the oldest professional domestic league in Asia, since 1999. The rule was introduced in a bid to protect homegrown talent when there were only 10 professional clubs. The K League announced after a board meeting in Seoul this week that because there's now 26 professional clubs in the top two tiers of competition, there's enough room for international goalkeepers. 'The increase in the number of clubs means that there are enough opportunities for domestic goalkeepers to play even if foreign goalkeepers are allowed,' the board said in a statement. 'We considered the fact that with foreign player registrations restricted, the salary increase rate of domestic goalkeepers has increased disproportionately to outfield players.' There were reportedly concerns, due to the increased size of modern rosters which contain three or four goalkeepers, that there's a shortage of quality keepers in the country. The move will put the K League in line with other major Asian leagues in Japan, Saudi Arabia and China. ___ AP soccer:
The National
13-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
PSL and IPL to resume this weekend after ceasefire between Pakistan and India
The Pakistan Super League is set to resume at home this weekend after a ceasefire between Pakistan and India. The Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Saturday that the T20 league was postponed indefinitely, a day after announcing the league would be relocating to the UAE. The 10th edition of the PSL was suspended last Thursday after an Indian drone fell near the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, which was due to host a game featuring foreign players from Australia, England, South Africa, West Indies, New Zealand and Afghanistan. The drone attack was described by Pakistan as a 'deliberate attempt' by India to target players. There are eight matches remaining in the six-team PSL, including the play-offs and the final scheduled for May 18. 'PSL X picks up from where it left off! 6 teams, 0 fear,' Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi posted Tuesday on X. 'Let the aura take over as we unite and celebrate the spirit of cricket," he posted. "Get ready for 8 thrilling matches starting 17th May, leading up to the Grand Final on 25th May. Best of luck to all the teams!' Organisers first proposed moving the tournament to Dubai but later decided to postpone it after foreign players were reluctant to participate in the tournament due to security concerns. Around 43 foreign cricketers were flown out of Pakistan from an airbase in Rawalpindi. It is not clear how many foreign players will return to Pakistan for the remaining eight games, which are likely to be played at Rawalpindi and Lahore. Quetta Gladiators have already qualified for the play-offs and lead the standings with 13 points. Karachi Kings, Islamabad United, Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi are in the running to fill the remaining three play-off spots. Multan Sultans, led by Mohammad Rizwan, are already out of the play-off race after losing eight of their nine league games. The Indian Premier League is set to resume on Saturday, with the remaining 17 games of the season to be held across six venues. IPL officials made the announcement on Monday, three days after the world's richest Twenty20 league was suspended amid the ramping up of military hostilities between India and Pakistan. No games will be lost. The Punjab Kings-Delhi Capitals game abandoned in Dharamsala in the 11th over last Thursday – due to apparent flood light failure – will be replayed. It remains to be seen how many overseas players will be tempted back, having left the region as tensions between the nuclear powers escalated. The matches are scheduled for Bengaluru, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mumbai and Ahmedabad – with Dharamsala notable by its absence. The last round-robin game will be on May 27 when Lucknow Super Giants host Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The first two knockout matches will be on May 29 and 30. Qualifier 2 will be on June 1. The final, originally slated for May 25, has been rescheduled for June 3. Devajit Saikia, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, said in a statement: 'The BCCI is pleased to announce the resumption of the TATA IPL 2025. 'After extensive consultations with government and security agencies, and with all the key stakeholders, the board has decided to proceed with the remainder of the season. 'The BCCI takes this opportunity to once again salute the bravery and resilience of India's armed forces, whose efforts have enabled the safe return of cricket. 'The Board reaffirms its commitment to national interest while ensuring the successful completion of the league.' The league will resume with Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Kolkata Knight Riders in Bengaluru. India superstar Virat Kohli will be in action for the first time since his Test retirement announcement on Monday. Seven teams are vying for the four places in the play-offs. Hyderabad, Rajasthan and Chennai have already been eliminated from contention. Chennai and Hyderabad will not play their final home games at their stadiums, keeping security and logistics in mind.
