South Korea lifts 26-year ban on foreign GKs

A 26-year prohibition connected overseas goalkeepers successful South Korea's apical formation has been lifted for the commencement of the 2026 season.

Only Korean goalkeepers person been allowed to play successful the K League -- the oldest nonrecreational home league successful Asia -- since 1999. The regularisation was introduced successful a bid to support homegrown endowment erstwhile determination were lone 10 nonrecreational clubs.

The K League announced aft a committee gathering successful Seoul this week that due to the fact that there's present 26 nonrecreational clubs successful the apical 2 tiers of competition, there's capable country for planetary goalkeepers.

"The summation successful the fig of clubs means that determination are capable opportunities for home goalkeepers to play adjacent if overseas goalkeepers are allowed," the committee said successful a statement.

"We considered the information that with overseas subordinate registrations restricted, the wage summation complaint of home goalkeepers has accrued disproportionately to outfield players."

There were reportedly concerns, owed to the accrued size of modern rosters which incorporate 3 oregon 4 goalkeepers, that there's a shortage of prime keepers successful the country.

The determination volition enactment the K League successful enactment with different large Asian leagues successful Japan, Saudi Arabia and China.