Explained: Why ISL's immediate future is closely associated with Supreme Court’s verdict in AIFF constitution matter

The upcoming season of the Indian Super League, the country’s top-flight competition since 2019, remains in a state of limbo with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Reliance-backed Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) yet to arrive at an agreement regarding the Master Rights Agreement.

The current MRA, which had been signed between the two bodies in 2010, is set to expire on 8 December, at which point the 12th season of the ISL – which normally runs from September to April – will already be underway.

Discussions over the new MRA, however, cannot be finalised until the Supreme Court of India delivers its verdict on the AIFF constitution, which is expected on Friday, 18 July. As a result, the 2025-26 season of the league has been suspended indefinitely till all parties arrive at an agreement.

More from Football

Sunil Chhetri breaks silence on ISL's indefinite suspension: 'Football has to resume soon. It will' Durand Cup 2025: Prize money triples but ISL participation drops amid uncertainty after suspension

What is the Supreme Court’s verdict on AIFF about? And how will it impact the ISL? 

To answer the second part of the question first, the apex court had informed the AIFF that they were to not sign any agreement with anyone, including the FSDL, until it delivered its verdict on the governing body’s constitution.

The case of the AIFF’s constitution had first landed at the Supreme Court’s doorstep after the Delhi High Court had, in 2017, found the election of office-bearers to have violated the National Sports Code and ordered it to be set aside.

Five years later, AIFF president Praful Patel was removed from office along with the Executive Committee for failing to hold Federation elections on a timely basis, leading to the SC putting a three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) in charge in May 2022.

It then entrusted retired apex court judge L Nageswara Rao to finalise the AIFF constitution in May 2023. The draft constitution, which proposes several radical changes including the appointment of at least five former players in the 14-member Executive Committee, was finally submitted to a bench comprising Justices PS Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi on 25 March this year.

Besides the inclusion of former players, the proposed constitution also allows for the removal of office-bearers on the basis of a no-confidence motion.

The Supreme Court’s verdict will be crucial for the ongoing negotiation between AIFF and FSDL, as it could possibly call for a fresh election in the federation before a deal is finalised, in which case the Reliance-backed entity could find themselves negotiating with someone other than current president Kalyan Chaubey.

Also Read | Sunil Chhetri breaks silence on ISL's indefinite suspension: 'Football has to resume soon. It will'

The original MRA granted FSDL exclusive commercial and operational rights for the league for a period of 15 years. And for the new MRA, the FSDL has proposed the formation of a new holding company ISL NewCo JV in which the 13 clubs would have a 60 per cent stake, with the FSDL and AIFF retained 26 and 14 per cent respectively.

The Delhi-based governing body has asked for Rs 50 crore or 10 per cent of the total league revenue in 2026, whichever is higher, under the new MRA with an annual increment of 5 per cent, which has since been shot down by FSDL.

However, the two bodies can continue negotiating and have a decision ready until the Court announces its verdict.