PLC initiates key measures to raise league’s ecosystem
abu dhabi — The local footballing season will see key measures being implemented to reach out to newer audiences, the Pro League Committee said on Friday.
PLC CEO Waleed Al Hosani, during a pre-season workshop held in Abu Dhabi, said the changes to the regulations were meant to raise the league’s ecosystem to a new level.
PLC competitions manager Mohammed Basel described the changes made to the regulations of the four competitions – the Arabian Gulf League, the Arabian Gulf Cup, the U21 League and the Arabian Gulf Super Cup.
The criteria for eligibility of players is from the categories of the UAE passport holders, sons of Emirati women and UAE residents covered by the decree of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.
Also, the player should not have represented any country in official competitions in his career.
From the new season, the Arabian Gulf League regulations will have up to 20 players make the match day squad on the condition that a team includes three Emirati players born in and after 1997.
A match day squad can include up to five players from the categories of the UAE passport holders, sons of Emirati women and UAE residents.
Another change made to the competition’s regulations is dropping the second booking for a player if he participates in three matches without collecting a third yellow card.
In the Arabian Gulf Cup, match day squads may include up to 10 players from the categories of foreign players and those covered by the presidential decree. Up to 5 of the 10 players can play at each point of the match. A format change was made to the Arabian Gulf Cup semi-final, which will now be played in a single leg. In the knock-out stages of the Cup, draws are decided through extra time.
Eligibility for the U21 league is limited to players born in 1999 or 2000. First-team players are ineligible for U21 league matches, this is meant to maximise playing opportunities afforded to young players. A match day squad can include five players from the categories of the decree.