The Asian Football Confederation has suggested that foreign players should not be allowed to play in India's domestic competitions for the next five years.

"It is much better to develop your own young players than bring sub-standard players from abroad," AFC secretary-general Peter Vellappan said on Tuesday.

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"I have seen some of the foreign recruits playing here and they are no better than the Indian players," Vellappan, who was in Delhi for the Vision India Club Development Workshop, said.

"India has such a huge population that you should be sending your players abroad."

Vellappan said during the workshop clubs complained that there was no development in the quality of football and performance of the national team.

"One needs to develop youth programmes and a link between schools and clubs who will have age-specific teams," Vellappan said.

"India has enough people but no mechanism and organisation to promote the game. The government needs to undertake capital expenditure to provide facilities in this regard," he added.