TEAMS won't be allowed to hire foreign players and coaches for the 2021 M3 League, said the Amateur Football League (AFL).
The amateur third-tier 20-team M3 League is scheduled to start in June.
Incepted in 2019, the M3, which is part of the M-League, saw the participation of import players and foreign coaches in the last two seasons.
However, the inclusion of foreigners at amateur level was panned by critics who said it deprived local coaches and players of the platform to build their careers.
Foreigners are already aplenty in the top two tiers — Super League and Premier League.
It is learnt that an M3 team have hired a foreign coach for the 2021 season, while a few clubs were looking to employ foreign players but AFL are steadfast in their decision.
AFL chairman Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi said the move to bar foreigners from M3 was made following input from Football Association of Malaysia technical director Datuk Ong Kim Swee.
"There are two reasons behind this decision.
"We want local coaches and players to get more opportunities, and continue their development in their careers in the M-League," said Yusoff.
"This is to also ensure that the M3 will be another platform to unearth talented local coaches and players as they go up the tiers in the M-League.
"We also want teams to be prudent in their budgets and spending for the 2021 season.
"Everyone is having a hard time due to Covid-19, so we felt it's better to ban foreign players and coaches to avoid any unpaid wage issues. We don't want players to be affected.
"We have Armed Forces appealing to let their foreign coach handle the team but we are firm in our decision, and we have communicated our decision to them.
"We have received teams' documentation to participate in the 2021 M3 season. Applications from 14 teams have been accepted while six other teams are still being evaluated," said Yusoff.
"There are three more months before the season starts, so there's ample time for teams to prepare."