New Delhi – In a significant development for Indian football, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has assured stakeholders that the Indian Super League (ISL) will proceed, despite recent uncertainties. The assurance came after a series of meetings convened by the Sports Ministry with various stakeholders of Indian football on Wednesday.
The meetings, held at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) headquarters in New Delhi, included representatives from ISL and I-League clubs, the All India Football Federation (AIFF), marketing partners, prospective commercial partners, broadcasters, and OTT platforms. The ministry initiated these discussions following a directive from the Supreme Court to address the commercial issues surrounding the ISL.
The AIFF's attempt to secure a new marketing partner had previously failed, leading several stakeholders to seek legal recourse. During the meetings, clubs and stakeholders voiced their concerns regarding the obstacles to starting the ISL and I-League but struggled to reach a consensus on solutions. Some ISL clubs advocated for greater involvement in managing the league, while others preferred the previous arrangement where marketing partners handled the financial aspects. Representatives from I-League proposed merging the ISL and I-League into a unified national league with a single commercial partner.
Minister Mandaviya expressed concern over the current state of Indian football and questioned why the country has been unable to successfully organize its premier league. He sought input on the underlying issues, including Supreme Court matters and the lack of sponsors. Despite the lack of an immediate solution, Mandaviya firmly stated that the domestic season would commence soon and urged clubs to begin preparing their teams. He emphasized the importance of football, noting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mentions of the sport in his "Maan Ki Baat" program.
The sports ministry is expected to submit a report to the Supreme Court later this week. During a previous hearing on November 21, the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, affirmed the ministry's commitment to ensuring the ISL takes place. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the case again before December 9, which is when FSDL's 15-year contract with the AIFF as commercial partners concludes.
I-League clubs have called for a pyramid structure with the same commercial partner for all leagues, promotion and relegation, and a joint 20-team league involving teams from the top two tiers. FSDL has maintained that "Indian football is not financially viable".
The minister's intervention is viewed as crucial for restoring clarity and stability to Indian football before the new season. While the meeting did not produce immediate solutions, the Sports Minister's assurance has provided a glimmer of hope for the swift resumption of the Indian Super League.
