The All India Football Federation Executive Committee decided to implement the 3+1 rule in I-League and discussed implementing it in the Super League from the 2021–22 season.[7]FSDL, agreeing to the suggestions made by AIFF Executive Committee have made significant changes in players registration and foreign players number in the squad enforceable from 2021 to 2022 Indian Super League season.[8] The changes have been made keeping in mind the AFC Club competitions regulations which follow 3+1 foreign players rule and to give more chances to domestic players in the league. The changes made were:
A club can now sign maximum of six and minimum of four foreigners including at least one player who hails from an AFC affiliated nation.
Four foreigners can play on the field at any instant of a match.
A decrease in foreign player numbers from 5 to 4 mandates the clubs to have a minimum of seven 7 Indian players on the field at any time.
A club also has the option to sign a foreign marquee player within the League-approved classifications.
Clubs to increase their development player signing from a minimum of 2 to 4 while continuing to have 2 of such development players be part of the match-day squad.
A club can have a maximum squad strength of 35 players, with at least three registered goalkeepers. A club can also have an injury replacement for an Indian player (outside the max. 35 registered players).
The squad salary cap remains at ₹16.5 crore (equivalent to ₹19 crore or US$2.2 million in 2023) for season 2021–22.[9]
Source: Indian Super League Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored; 7) fair play ranking; 8) drawing of lots (C) Champions; (L) League Winners' Shield Winners
^Media, SC East bengal (8 September 2021). "¡Hola, Manolo!". SC East Bengal. Archived from the original on 8 September 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
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