Dubai: The UAE’s domestic league has introduced a raft of changes for the upcoming season, which starts on August 30.
The number of players in an Arabian Gulf League match day squad has increased from 18 to 20 on the condition that it includes three Emirati players born in or after 1997, (making them Under-21). Squads can still include three foreigners plus one Asian, but additionally they can now also include up to five other players who are either UAE passport holders, players born to Emirati women, or UAE residents. This is in accordance to last November’s presidential decree, which enabled expatriates to play for their local club and potentially the UAE national team.
Another change sees second yellow cards get dropped if the player participates in a third match and doesn’t collect a third yellow.
In the Arabian Gulf Cup, match day squads may include up to 10 players from the category of foreign players (three foreigners plus one Asian) and those covered by the presidential decree (so up to six). Up to five of those 10 players can also play together at any point of the match.
The Arabian Gulf Cup semi-final will now only be played over one leg not two.
Eligibility for the Under-21 league is limited to players born in 1999 or 2000 and first team players are ineligible for the Under-21 squad (also referred to as the reserves). Five players from the categories covered by the presidential decree can also participate at Under-21 level.
