New Delhi: The quota of foreign footballers in the I-League for the 2017-18 season has been raised to six, the AIFF informed the clubs, on Tuesday.

In a particular match, a club will now be allowed to field five foreigners including one from an AFC registered nation. The increase in quota was agreed upon by the AIFF in consultation with its executive committee after a section of the clubs said it was necessary since the I-League and the Indian Super League (ISL) would be played simultaneously this season.

Under the new rule, the clubs will be allowed to recruit six foreigners and two of them would have to be from an AFC registered nation. Previously, the clubs were allowed to recruit maximum of four foreigners including one from an Asian country.

Interestingly, the AIFF decided to bring in the new rule even though at least four clubs gave it in writing that they were against increasing the foreigners' quota.

However, two Calcutta clubs, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, openly campaigned for more foreigners and demanded the quota to be increased to eight.

In contrast, the ISL, which allowed franchises to field six foreigners in a particular match for the first three editions, has now reduced it to five this season.