Indonesia Super League - Foreign Players

Foreign Players

The first edition of ISL used the same format for foreign players as the previous edition of top layer league in Indonesia, which allows club to have 5 foreign players from any countries without further restrictions. Only 3 of them are allowed to play together in a match.

However, since the 2009-10 edition, Indonesian FA has applied a new restriction as known as "3+2" format, in which at least 2 of 5 foreign players in every club are originated from Asian countries. Furthermore, those foreign players need to conform with the following condition:

• Players from European or American countries should have played in the second division (third layer of their respective competition system).
• Players from Asian countries whose club competed in the AFC Champions League should have played in (at least) in the first division (second layer of their respective competition system).
• Players from African countries and Asian countries (whose club did not competed in the AFC Champions League) should have played (at least) in the premier/super league (highest layer of their respective competition system).
• Players from Southeast Asian countries should be in their national team.

In 2010-2011 edition, Indonesian FA introduced a new restriction regarding registration of new foreign players from African countries. Players from African countries who have never played before in Indonesia Super League shall be an international player for his country. The respective players have to show formal evidences that they have played for their country in official FIFA matches. Players failed to show such evidences will not get permit to play in Indonesia Super League 2010-2011.