At one time, the age limit of 21 was applied in the Azerbaijan Premier League.
It was ensured that at least one of our young players appeared in the championship games. This system, in addition to supporting the development of our youth, created an opportunity to train new talents for the national team. However, AFFA canceled this system in 2 seasons. Only one Premier League team now has an under-21 player as a member of the main squad. After yesterday's defeat to Serbia, Samir Aliyev complained about this issue. He expressed that the youth did not play in our expert teams. The head coach notes that the current situation is worrying. So, should the 21 age limit be brought back to increase the chances of young players and ensure they are more active in the league?
To find an answer to the question, we turned to the well-known agent Emil Shukurov. In his statement to Offsideplus.az, the manager said the following about the issue:
"Absolutely not! The artificial player limit has not been successful anywhere in the world. The same situation is observed here. During the period when the limit was applied, U-21 players appeared mainly in the positions of supporting midfielders and wing defenders. AFFA and PFL clubs should take stimulating measures to play young players. For example, a part of the membership fees paid for the legionaries should be distributed among the clubs that give a chance to the local youth. In addition, by holding regular meetings with the coaches, the players should also demonstrate that they are worthy members of the main team they should."