The future of the Indian Super League (ISL) is uncertain, prompting clubs to seek clarity from the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Eight ISL clubs have collectively written to the AIFF, expressing "a sense of shared concern and responsibility towards the current status and direction of Indian football". These clubs are Bengaluru FC, Jamshedpur FC, FC Goa, Hyderabad FC, Kerala Blasters FC, NorthEast United FC, Odisha FC, and Punjab FC. Prominent clubs like Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal, and Mohammedan Sporting did not sign the letter, and Mumbai City FC and Chennaiyin FC also stayed away.
The primary concern stems from the lack of clarity surrounding the 15-year Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between the AIFF and its marketing partners, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), which is set to expire on December 8. The Supreme Court had previously asked the AIFF not to make any decisions regarding the MRA renewal until a final order is issued. This has led to the ISL being put on hold, creating operational challenges for the clubs.
The clubs have expressed their inability to plan effectively due to the absence of proper interaction and a lack of information from both the AIFF and its commercial rights holder. This uncertainty is impacting critical activities such as youth development, player recruitment, staffing, budgeting, and grassroots programming, which require months of advance planning. Some clubs have even been forced to halt their youth operations. The clubs emphasized that the longer this uncertainty persists, the greater the risk of undoing years of progress.
The clubs are seeking a constructive dialogue with the AIFF president, Kalyan Chaubey, and have requested a meeting at the earliest. They aim to understand the process of resolution and contribute to it, reaffirming their commitment to the growth of football in India and their willingness to work with the governing body to overcome the current challenges.
Kalyan Chaubey has welcomed the proposal from the ISL clubs for a meeting. He acknowledged the importance of clubs as stakeholders and their significant contributions to improving infrastructure and player salaries. The AIFF plans to respond to the clubs soon. Chaubey has previously assured that the ISL will take place this season, potentially with a slight delay due to ongoing litigation in the Supreme Court.
Despite these assurances, the absence of the ISL from the AIFF's competition calendar for the 2025-26 season has fueled concerns about its future. The I-League, India's former top division, is scheduled to commence on October 19 and continue until April 2026, making it the only confirmed senior men's league for the upcoming season. This omission of the ISL is seen as more than just a bureaucratic issue. An official from one of the clubs stated that the clubs would like to know how the president is confident the ISL will happen, especially when the AIFF has shown little urgency in the matter.
