CFA to limit foreign players in Cup competition

Aiming to offer homegrown talent, the Chinese Football Association will implement the same policy first adopted in domestic leagues of limiting the use of foreign players at its Cup competition this year.

Starting with the CFA Cup's 2017 season, which kicks off the opening round on March 18, clubs from the top- and second-tier leagues will be allowed to field a maximum of three foreigners, down from five, in games where they face each other. They can’t use any foreigners in matches against third-tier league and amateur teams in the tournament, the CFA announced on Thursday.

The CFA Cup, an annual knockout competition first played among professional teams in 1995, started to accept amateur squads in 2012 to offer them opportunities challenging elite counterparts in the pro leagues.

At this year’s tournament, which features a 64-team draw, the top amateur eight teams from a qualifying event will join 24 third-tier pro league clubs to compete head-to-head in the single-elimination first round.

Winners of the opening round will face 16 clubs from China League One (second-tier) in the second round before winners challenging 16 Chinese Super League (top-tier) squads in the third round.

The CFA also said each team participating in the Cup event is now required to have at least two Chinese players under the age of 23 in its 18-player match day roster, and at least one in the starting lineup.

On Jan 16, the association announced it will impose the same rules referring to the use of foreigners and local players in CSL and League One from the 2017 season, which is scheduled to start in early March.

To prohibit higher-level pro teams from playing foreigners against entry-level and amateur squads is a positive way to make the tournament fair and competitive in the early rounds, said Lu Jianjun, president of Shanghai Jiading Booking FC, one of the eight amateur clubs.

“It will become a lopsided matchup such as ‘David versus Goliath’ if we are facing a pro club playing its full foreign roster. (By limiting the use of foreigners), teams from the grassroots will be motivated to challenge the authority of higher-level pro squads. This will inspire greater attention from local communities, thus be beneficial for the game’s grassroots promotion,” he said at the tournament’s drawing ceremony on Thursday.

Sun Jihai, the former Chinese national defender who also attended the ceremony on Thursday, said the Cup tournament helps ignite greater passion among amateurs by offering them unique access to experiencing the game on an elite level.

“The possibility of amateurs taking down professionals definitely draws more attention from each participating squad's local communities. The high-profile platform available for grassroots competitors will help grow the game's profile across the country," the retired star said.