Armenia national team head coach Yeghishe Melikyan has welcomed the Armenian Football Federation's decision to introduce new squad regulations from the 2026–27 season.

Under the new rules, each club competing in the Armenian Premier League and First League may register no more than 15 players who were not trained in Armenia and are not members of Armenia's senior or youth national teams. If a club also has a reserve team in the First League, the limit will apply to the combined squad lists of both teams, ArmSport reported.

Melikyan said a squad containing up to 15 foreign players is sufficient for clubs to remain competitive.

He noted that several clubs opposed another rule requiring four Armenian players, instead of three, to be included in the starting lineup. According to the coach, those discussions prompted him to examine the issue more closely.

While acknowledging the clubs' concerns, Melikyan argued that the change represents the best solution for the development of Armenian footballers.

Some clubs have claimed that requiring four Armenian players in the starting eleven could create artificial competition. Melikyan disagreed, saying the 15-player limit for foreign footballers provides enough room for healthy and natural competition among local players.

He added that clubs will remain competitive under the new quota, while Armenian footballers will have a fair opportunity to earn places through merit. Rather than guaranteeing playing time artificially, he said, the priority should be to create an environment where players can develop, prove their abilities and secure their positions through genuine competition.

The federation's decision has sparked mixed reactions among clubs and supporters. According to media reports, several clubs have objected to the amendments and called on the Armenian Football Federation's Executive Committee to convene an extraordinary meeting to reconsider the changes.