 "AIFF releases top league tender after deadline as ISL clubs allege ‘breach of trust’; base price set at Rs 37.5 crore")
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) finally sprang into action on Thursday as it released the tender to acquire the commercial rights of the Indian Super League (ISL) for the next 15 years after 10 top-division clubs slammed the football body in a letter for failing to adhere to the court-mandated deadline.
The ISL has been in limbo ever since AIFF failed to extend the existing Master Rights Agreement (MRA) with Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), which runs the ISL. FSDL had signed a 15-year contract with AIFF in 2010 to exclusively hold the commercial rights to operate and market the ISL.
The contract ends on 8 December 2025, but a failure to sign an extension forced FSDL from starting the 2025-26 season of ISL. On 28 August, AIFF and FSDL made a joint submission in the Supreme Court to “conduct an open, competitive and transparent tender” which will be concluded by 15 October.
However, AIFF’s failure to float a tender even after the deadline day was over has set the alarm bells ringing among the ISL clubs as they stare at an uncertain future.
ISL club slams AIFF over delay in floating tender
On Thursday, 10 ISL clubs wrote a strongly-worded letter to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey and executive committee members, registering their protest and expressing a lack of confidence in the governing body.
“As of today, there has been no tender document released, no communication on the next steps, and no transparency on where the process currently stands,” the ISL clubs wrote in the letter on Thursday.
“The lack of communication has been deeply disappointing, and the silence surrounding this matter has caused further erosion of confidence among clubs and other stakeholders.”
The clubs reminded AIFF that it has decided to support the federation in the larger interest of Indian football, but its lack of action and constant delaying of matters have created financial problems for the teams and threatens the growth of Indian football.
“Clubs have continued to demonstrate their willingness to cooperate and support Indian football’s larger ecosystem, but this goodwill cannot continue to be taken for granted.
“The uncertainty has made financial planning, sponsorship discussions, and player commitments nearly impossible to sustain. Moreover, the current situation represents a breach of trust, one that risks undoing the collective progress made in professionalising Indian football over the past decade.”
Details of AIFF’s tender for ISL
As a result, AIFF on the same day released the right for proposal (RFP) inviting bids to award the right to monetise the commercial rights of the tier-1 league for the next 15 years.
The bids have to be submitted by 5 November.
The AIFF has set a base price of Rs 37.5 crore annually or 5% of total revenue, whichever is higher. The bidders need to have a net worth of at least Rs 250 crore.
The ISL is expected to start from 2025. There will be no franchise fees for the teams and relegation will be added to its structure.
The ISL clubs will also be needed to maintain a salary cap of Rs 18 crore.
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