J.League may remove restriction over foreign player number

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The executive committee of Japan Professional Soccer League (J.League) had a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the proposal of removing restrictions over how many foreign players teams can have, reported Nikkan Sports.

At the meeting in Tokyo, the committee’s technical director Hara Hiromi shared the proposal with the representatives of J.League’s 18 teams, asked for their views and hoped that they could give their replies soon.

J.League learned how influential the arrival of a world-class superstar can be by meeting Andres Iniesta to Vissel Kobe. /VCG Photo

The committee originally had planned to hold this meeting at the end of 2017 when, thanks to concerns over chances being reduced for home-grown players, the proposal had to be shelved. However, as Andres Iniesta and Fernando Torres joined J.league in May, opinions started to change.

According to Nikkan Sports, the committee was shocked by the reports accompanying the transfer of the two players and thus put on the proposal of allowing as many as possible foreign players to join J.League again on the agenda.

Fernando Torres playing for Sagan Tosu. /VCG Photo

Multiple Japanese media outlets believe that the arrival of world-class players at the country’s soccer league will not only improve the teams’ strengths but also help create more revenues by increasing ticket sales. If the proposal is approved, the restriction can be removed as soon as next season, according to Tencent Sports.

Currently, each team of J.League is allowed to register with five foreign players including three unrestricted ones, one from Asian countries and another from countries that have cooperation agreements with J.League.