ISL clubs question viability of shortened season: 'There is a limit to which we can take losses'

The crisis in Indian football continues to deepen as uncertainty surrounds the start of the Indian Super League (ISL) season, with clubs and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) still unable to reach a clear agreement. The biggest concern remains the absence of a commercial partner, which has left the league without assured funding and pushed the season further into delay.

According to reports, ISL clubs and the AIFF are exploring the option of holding a shortened, centralised season at two venues instead of the traditional home-and-away format. The idea is to divide teams into two conferences and have a final between the group winners. However, this plan has raised serious financial concerns among clubs after an unofficial estimate suggested that hosting just the first leg could cost around Rs 42 crore.

The projected cost has shocked many clubs, especially since AIFF’s proposed budget for running the league is around Rs 70 crore. Club officials fear that the total operational cost for even a curtailed season could exceed the federation’s budget. Adding to the problem, clubs have been informed that they may have to contribute around Rs 2.5 crore each for the season, more than double the Rs 1 crore participation fee discussed in an earlier meeting.

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While clubs had earlier agreed in principle to a revised revenue-sharing model proposed by AIFF, their acceptance was clearly dependent on the federation securing a credible commercial partner. Without that, many clubs believe the financial model is simply not viable. Jamshedpur FC have said they are willing to participate regardless of the outcome, but Odisha FC have stated that playing without a commercial partner would be extremely difficult.

ISL clubs could lose upto Rs 40 crore

The financial strain was explained bluntly by a senior Kerala Blasters official, who pointed out that clubs like theirs earn heavily from home matches through sponsorship and ticket sales. In a centralised league, that revenue would almost disappear. With sponsorship income expected to fall sharply and ticket revenue reduced to zero, Kerala Blasters alone could suffer losses close to Rs 40 crore in a shortened season.

“We earn sponsorship revenue between Rs 15-17 crore when we play at home. We also earn ticket revenue between Rs 5-7 crore. Add Rs 15-17 crore from the central pool, which will now come down to zero. According to the model proposed, we lose the entire ticket revenue, for if there are no home games, the revenue turns null and void. Sponsorship, too, will fall to Rs 5 crore. So the total loss for a truncated season is close to Rs 40 crore. While we all want football to start and the league to happen, how do we digest this volume of loss for this season? Our ownership is extremely concerned,” Revsportz quoted a senior Kerala Blasters official as saying.

“In the absence of a commercial partner and unless player salary caps are cut significantly, to participate in a truncated league and incur this level of loss is unviable. Also, we don’t want to get suckered into participating in a truncated league unless there is a long-term plan in place. Our ownership is extremely concerned and may I say we all are. “We all want to play. Don’t misunderstand us. But there is a limit to which we can accommodate losses,” the official added.

Clubs also stressed that the discussions held so far have been unofficial and exploratory. Any formal decision is unlikely before AIFF gets clarity from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on issues such as minimum match requirements for continental qualification. Under current AFC rules, the proposed shortened ISL season could even put India’s AFC slots at risk unless special exemptions are granted.