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UFL Board of Directors Approves Foreign Players for Etisalat Challenge League

The UFL Board of Directors has approved the inclusion of two foreign players per team in the Etisalat Challenge League, starting from the forthcoming registration stage which commences in January 2011. The ruling was agreed at the UFL General Assembly held yesterday, Saturday December 18, in Dubai under the direction of Dr. Tariq Al Tayer, Chairman of the UFL.                            

The decision allows for two players to be registered in a Challenge League team but also means that if one of the club's three foreign players registered in the Etisalat Pro-League is injured or unavailable then either of these two players are eligible to take their place in the top division.

The UFL General Assembly also discussed a proposal regarding prize money distribution for the Etisalat Super Cup competition. Starting from this current season, the prize money is set at AED 1,000,000 for the winner and AED 500,000 for the runners-up. This replaces the previous seasons' system whereby the two competing teams received a percentage of the UFL net profits at the end of the season. 

Speaking about the meeting, Dr Tariq Al Tayer hailed the standard of the negotiations by all participating UFL club members saying, "The two proposed agenda items were discussed in an open forum, with all attendees having the opportunity to express their thoughts and opinions in a candid manner."

He continued, "Allowing the registration of two foreign players with the reserve team, particularly if they sign young, up-and-comers, could help a club develop and may prove a very smart investment for them. The ruling is not a compulsory requirement of clubs and any club who feels satisfied with their three foreign players in the senior Etisalat Pro-League team are free not to sign up any additional players."

The UFL Chairman also extended his gratitude to the UFL Board Members for their shared commitment to the League, "We always seek the opinions and ideas of the clubs as we are all working towards the same objective - that being to develop the standard of football in this country and increase our level of professionalism."