3 minute read

PFA boss John Didulica says players don't see any value in either raising or lowering foreign player limits in the A-League.

Australia's professional footballers want restrictions on foreign players in the A-League to remain unchanged.

Discussion over increasing or reducing the number of visa players within each A-League squad has been an ongoing topic as the competition transitions from FFA to member-club control.

In a document released in February outlining their blueprint for an independent A-League, club bosses stated they were opposed to a mooted plan to adjust the current limit of five visa players per team to four visa players and one Asian visa player.

Earlier this week, ex-Socceroos Mark Bosnich and Robbie Slater debated the issue on the Fox Football Podcast.

Bosnich said more foreigners would benefit the league while Slater argued increasing visa player limits would damage Australia's youth football production.

Professional Footballers Australia chief executive John Didulica said his members had expressed a belief the current limit was perfect for the competition as it is right now.

"We survey the players on this issue every year to just check the pulse and where their opinion's at and overwhelmingly the players support retaining five foreigners," Didulica told AAP.

"Over 75 per cent of players believe that the current level of five, or limit of five, is appropriate.

"Their experience tells them that five is about right. I don't see any reason to move away from that.

"There's simply no specific evidence that would tell us increasing that number of foreign spots is going to enhance the league in any way."

Didulica said as the A-League expands the foreign player limits could be revisited but any changes would have to work "hand-in-hand" with building the youth competition - the Y-League.

"We've got so many talented young players who are looking for opportunity in an elite pathway, so we need to really build that out over the next 12 months," he said.