Latest news with #KLeagueBoard
The Sun
12 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
South Korea lift bizarre little-known 26-year ban on signing foreign goalkeepers
A 26-YEAR ban on foreign goalkeepers in South Korea's top soccer league has been lifted effective from the start of the 2026 season. Only Korean goalkeepers have been allowed to play in the K League, the oldest professional domestic league in Asia since 1999. 2 2 The rule was originally introduced to protect homegrown talent when there were only 10 professional clubs. Following a board meeting in Seoul this week, the K League announced that with 26 professional clubs now competing across the top two tiers, there's enough room to accommodate international goalkeepers. The increase in the number of clubs means there are sufficient opportunities for domestic goalkeepers to play, even with the inclusion of foreigners. The board said in a statement: 'Starting in 2026 clubs will be permitted to register foreign goalkeepers. "The K League previously restricted their participation beginning in 1996 and introduced a full ban in 1999. "To encourage the development of domestic goalkeepers as most clubs at the time relied on foreign players in the position. "We have considered the fact that, with foreign player registrations restricted, the salary increase rate of domestic goalkeepers has risen disproportionately compared to outfield players.' There have reportedly been concerns over a shortage of quality keepers in the country due in part to the expanded size of modern rosters which typically include three or four goalkeepers. The decision to lift the ban is now expected to directly increase the number of foreign players in the K League. The move also brings the K League in line with other major Asian leagues, such as those in Japan, Saudi Arabia, and China. Iraq striker Aymen Hussein SENT OFF for bizarre grass-eating celebration after goal in Asian Cup Another rule that was introduced last season was a homegrown classification for youth players of foreign nationality who have spent a significant period developing in South Korea. If a foreign player has been registered with a domestic amateur team for three consecutive years, or a total of five years, before signing their first professional contract, they are now classified as a domestic player and will not occupy a foreign player slot.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
News: K League's Foreign Goalkeeper Ban to be Scrapped From 2026
The K League will, from 2026, allow foreign goalkeepers, scrapping a ban that had been in place since 1999. Other rules have been tweaked regarding K League 2 matchday squad sizes and eligibility for the Young Player of the Year Award. The Korea Professional Football League held its third board meeting of 2025 on Thursday, the 19th, at the Football Centre in Sinmunno, Seoul. The following items were resolved: Foreign goalkeepers to be permitted from 2026 Increase in squad size for K League 2 matches Inclusion of all homegrown players in eligibility for the Young Player of the Year Award Appointment of new board members Review of disciplinary ruling regarding FC Anyang. Foreign Goalkeepers Allowed from 2026 From 2026, the registration of foreign goalkeepers will be permitted. During the mid-1990s, when the K League operated with just eight teams, most clubs fielded foreign goalkeepers as first-choice players. To foster the development of domestic goalkeepers, the League began restricting the number of appearances by foreign goalkeepers from 1996, eventually imposing a full ban on their registration from 1999. Advertisement The Board explained that the goalkeeper position, being highly specialised, had seen disproportionate wage increases for domestic players due to the restriction. Furthermore, as the number of clubs has significantly increased since the initial ban, sufficient opportunities for domestic goalkeepers remain even with the inclusion of foreign players. Accordingly, the clause mandating that goalkeepers be domestic players will be removed from the K League regulations from 2026, applying to both K League 1 and K League 2. K League 2 Matchday Squad Size to Increase to 20 from 2026 From the 2026 season, the K League 2 matchday squad size will be expanded from the current 18 players to a maximum of 20. K League 1 has already implemented the 20-player squad format starting from the 2024 season. Currently, K League 2 matchday squads consist of 11 starting players and seven substitutes, totalling 18, but this will change to 11 starters and nine substitutes. The Board cited improved tactical flexibility through more substitution options and the need to ensure domestic player opportunities as reasons for the change, particularly given the removal of the AFC and ASEAN foreign player quotas and the resulting increase in the number of foreign players who can be registered regardless of nationality. Homegrown Players Eligible for Young Player of the Year Award Eligibility for the Young Player of the Year Award, previously limited to Korean nationals aged 23 and under, will be extended to include all 'homegrown players'. The Board stated that players who have been developed within the domestic football system and signed as professionals with K League clubs, thereby holding the same status as Korean players, should equally be considered eligible for the award. Appointment of New Board Members Kim Seung-hee, Executive Director of the Korea Football Association, and Kwon Il, General Manager of Gimpo FC, have been appointed as new members of the League's Board of Directors. Review of FC Anyang Disciplinary Decision The League has decided to uphold the disciplinary committee's decision and dismiss FC Anyang's appeal regarding a fine of 10 million KRW. Last month, on Tuesday the 20th, Mayor Choi Dae-ho, the club owner of FC Anyang, held a public press conference at Anyang Sports Complex's media room where he made negative remarks about refereeing decisions and actions deemed to have defamed the K League and harmed its reputation.
South China Morning Post
15 hours ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
South Korea lifts 26-year ban on foreign goalkeepers in the K League
A 26-year ban on foreign goalkeepers in South Korea's top football league has been lifted for the start of the 2026 season. Only Korean goalkeepers have been allowed to play in the K League, the oldest professional domestic league in Asia, since 1999. The rule was introduced in a bid to protect homegrown talent when there were only 10 professional clubs. The K League announced after a board meeting in Seoul this week that because there were now 26 professional clubs in the top two tiers of competition, there was enough room for international goalkeepers. 'The increase in the number of clubs means that there are enough opportunities for domestic goalkeepers to play even if foreign goalkeepers are allowed,' the board said in a statement. 'We considered the fact that with foreign player registrations restricted, the salary increase rate of domestic goalkeepers has increased disproportionately to outfield players.' There were reportedly concerns, because of the increased size of modern rosters which contain three or four goalkeepers, that there was a shortage of quality keepers in the country.
Associated Press
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
South Korea lifts 26-year ban on foreign goalkeepers in the K League
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A 26-year ban on foreign goalkeepers in South Korea's top soccer league has been lifted for the start of the 2026 season. Only Korean goalkeepers have been allowed to play in the K League, the oldest professional domestic league in Asia, since 1999. The rule was introduced in a bid to protect homegrown talent when there were only 10 professional clubs. The K League announced after a board meeting in Seoul this week that because there's now 26 professional clubs in the top two tiers of competition, there's enough room for international goalkeepers. 'The increase in the number of clubs means that there are enough opportunities for domestic goalkeepers to play even if foreign goalkeepers are allowed,' the board said in a statement. 'We considered the fact that with foreign player registrations restricted, the salary increase rate of domestic goalkeepers has increased disproportionately to outfield players.' There were reportedly concerns, due to the increased size of modern rosters which contain three or four goalkeepers, that there's a shortage of quality keepers in the country. The move will put the K League in line with other major Asian leagues in Japan, Saudi Arabia and China. ___ AP soccer:
