Starting next season, Premier League clubs will be allowed to register an unlimited number of foreigners, name six on matchday, and use up to five at a time. The number of teams remains undetermined as the league looks to get back underway in August.
Premier League clubs met on Friday for the first time since the season was cancelled in late February. Amongst the topics that were believed to have been discussed include scheduling, the number of teams, changes to the foreign quota and the selection of a broadcaster for next season.
The Hong Kong Football Association informed the clubs that they had begun inviting clubs from the First Division to promote, with a goal to increase the number of teams in the top flight for the 2022-23 season. It is believed that several formats were discussed, including scenarios that would see either eight, nine or ten teams in the league next season. The final number of teams remains undetermined at this time.
Hong Kong’s slot allocation for the 2023-24 AFC Champions League is currently slated to be one direct group stage slot and two slots in the qualifiers. But according to the Entry Manual for AFC Club Competitions, the number of participating clubs from any member association may not exceed one-third the number of clubs in its domestic top division. As such, it is incumbent on the HKFA to increase the number of teams to at least nine for next season in order to maximize their Champions League slot allocation.
The HKFA are maintaining their target of resuming play with a preseason cup competition in July, in which participation will be voluntary. The format and schedule of the competition was not discussed on Friday but clubs agreed to discuss it in more detail next week. The league campaign is expected to get underway in mid-August.
The foreign quota will be relaxed in line with recent AFC decisions. (Credit: Eastern)
Foreign quota increased
Premier League clubs agreed to remove the cap on the number of foreign players who can be registered on the squad. Clubs will also be able to name a maximum of six foreigners on their matchday squads. The marquee foreign player rule, which was introduced prior to the 2020-21 season, will be abolished and clubs will be allowed to field a fifth foreign player regardless of nationality or pedigree.
This change is in line with the AFC’s decision to relax its foreign quota for continental competitions. Starting this season, clubs are allowed to register an unlimited number of foreigners, though the 3+1 quota remains for players on the pitch. Beginning with the 2023-24 season, clubs will be allowed a 5+1 quota in the AFC’s bid to become more competitive in international competition.
The clubs also voted down a proposal to require that each team field an under-22 player on the pitch at all times.
Broadcast options for the league
On 6 May, the HKFA formally announced a request for proposal to broadcast 68 Premier League matches and 15 FA Cup matches, with the deadline closing at noon on Friday.
It is believed that three media organizations submitted proposals and that the HKFA stated their preferred broadcaster at Friday’s meeting. The clubs refused to approve any bid on Friday but agreed to discuss the three proposals again early next week.
Matches have been streamed exclusively by Oriental Daily since the 2015-16 season after the league’s first broadcaster, ATV, had their free-to-air license revoked by the government. Unlike ATV and other organizations which have broadcast local football in the past, Oriental Daily does not own a linear television channel and their content is available exclusively online.
The clubs also reached a preliminary consensus to move forward with the establishment of an independent organization to manage the Premier League, which would take the operations, strategy and marketing of the league away from the HKFA and into the hands of the clubs.
