A file picture of Al Sadd players celebrating a goal during a Qatar Stars League match
By Sports Reporter/Doha
The Qatar Football Association (QFA) new competition regulations were announced at the Diplomatic Club in Doha where clubs from both the first and second division attended. The workshop which took place on 21st of May focused on the Qatar Stars League, the Qatar Cup, the Emir Cup and the Qatar Gas League.
Saud al-Mohannadi, the QFA Vice President, Hammad al-Mannai, the Senior Councilor of the QFA, Mubarak al-Sulaiti, Vice President of the Disciplinary Committee all spoke and explained all the various matters related to the new regulations. Among the most important changes that were announced were the new rules for the relegation and promotion between the leagues.
Promotion and relegation
The new regulations say that next season any of the top five teams in the Qatar Gas League who are not reserves teams will automatically qualify for the Qatar Stars League (QSL). If a second division team finishes in sixth or lower then they will face a one off promotion play-off against the team who finished in 13th position in the Qatar Stars League.
The Qatar Gas League has 14 QSL reserve teams and 4 second division teams that participate every season. The Qatar Gas League competition is a league format where two teams from the second division ascend to Qatar Stars League based on their final ranking. The teams who finish in 13th and 14th position respectively in the QSL are relegated to the Qatar Gas League unless they win the promotion play-off.
Venues for next season
Officials at the workshop also stated that they are close to resolving the issue of fewer venues for QSL matches next season.
Player transfer regulations
With regard to player contracts, the new regulations state that any player released by a club in the last few days of the January transfer window will be able to make an appeal to FIFA. With the approval of the football world governing body, the player will then be able to move to another Qatari Club or abroad despite the transfer window having come to an end.
In addition, any QSL player who doesn’t participate in the first six matches with his club is then eligible to move to another club if he so wishes.
Squad size
As of next season each club can only register 30 players per squad which means that there will be 420 players in total in the QSL. The 30 players can play for both the reserve and first teams.
Also, if a player plays a single half of football in the first team, he is then eligible to play another half of football in the reserve team the following day.
Foreign Players Quota
In the 2016 season the number of foreign players will be reduced further to just two foreign players per team.
El Jaish approve loan of Anderson to Corinthians SC
El Jaish Sports Club has revealed that their Brazilian defender Anderson Martinez will head to his homeland on a loan spell with Corinthians SC for one season.
El Jaish club officials said that the player will be with the Brazilian outfit from next season and will come back to El Jaish at the end of his loan agreement.
Anderson has a contract for five years with El Jaish, having already spent two seasons with the Army.
The Brazilian still has three seasons left on his five year contract.
With the loan spell imminent, the defender will not be included in the 30 man squad for the 2014/15 season, which means that El Jaish can now look for two foreign players to join their ranks.
Due to some family issues back in his home land the Brazilian opted for the move back.
Head Coach Maâloul said that it was better to send him back so that he can help his family and when the player returns he will be ready and at the peak of his powers with no distractions.
In addition, right back Mosaab Mahmoud and Striker Maher Yousef will return to El Jaish after loan spells with Umm Salal.
The latter will be especially important to the team, because last season the army side lacked the fire power needed to secure the Qatar Stars League title. Both players are on five year contracts.
Al Sailiya SC will hold annual General Assembly
Al Sailiya Sports Club announced that the General Assembly will be held next Sunday on the 1st of June. The club board under the presidency of Abdullah al-Aida will discuss with the assembly members the results of all the teams who represent the club in all sports.
Al Sailiya football team who finished in fourth spot in the Qatar Stars League, and also was in the final of the Emir Cup will look to find ways to improve even further next season.
The members will also discuss all the results achieved by the youth teams as well as the results of the first team in Futsal after their debut participation in the league last season.
The board will also discuss the budget and present their business plan for their various activities for the next season.