Why AIFF may not be able to run the ISL despite clubs agreeing to play

The Indian Super League (ISL) clubs want the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to take the financial responsibility for running the delayed 2025-26 season, but the national governing body may not have the funds to hold the tournament, a report has claimed.

On Wednesday (31 December), the AIFF had asked the ISL clubs to confirm their participation in the delayed ISL. In response, 13 out of the 14 clubs confirmed their participation, but on two conditions. First, there must be no participation fee, and secondly, AIFF must take the financial burden to operate the league.

Why AIFF may not manage to run ISL

The ISL was earlier operated by AIFF’s former commercial partner, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), but the contract between the two parties ended on 8 December 2025. The AIFF has since failed to find a new partner.

FSDL used to pay Rs 50 crore annually to AIFF, which came in four equal installments of Rs 12.5 crore each. But with the 15-year contract ending last month, the AIFF has reportedly been left with a deficit of Rs 25.9 crore till June this year. According to the Times of India, the AIFF could be forced to close a quarter of its operations.

More from Football

AIFF likely to shoulder some cost to help clubs kickstart ISL Relief for Indian football as AIFF confirms it will organise ISL 2025-26, will announce dates soon

It has to be noted that AIFF has also failed to start the I-League and I-League 2 due to financial troubles.

“Never in Indian football has the season, and the contract, concluded midseason on Dec 8,” a senior AIFF official told the Times of India. “We have no other revenue, and this season till June, we have a deficit of two installments (Jan-March and April-June), besides we got paid only till the first week of Dec (with no money for the rest of the month).”

“The entire money for this year has already been booked for spending. Now we have a Rs 25.9 crore (revenue) deficit. We will have to shut down a quarter of our activities to ensure that the deficit gets adjusted. We simply don’t have the money to own and operate the (top-tier) league. Even for the I-League, we are looking for similar long-term agreement where clubs will own the league. This year too we will do something similar since the leagues were previously run from MRA revenue,” the official added.

The report added that AIFF has a bank balance of Rs 19.9 crore and fixed deposits and bonds of around Rs 21.6 crore. They will also receive Rs 9 crore from FIFA, but that can only be used for special projects.

The fixed deposits and bonds remain the only viable option for AIFF to finance the league, but they will need permission from the finance committee, executive committee and the general body.

Indian footballers appeal to FIFA to save football

Meanwhile, ISL footballers, including Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Sandesh Jhingan and Sunil Chhetri, have urged FIFA to intervene and "save Indian football" through a video message.

“This is the last-ditch effort to save what we can. So we are calling the FIFA to step in and do what it takes to save Indian football. We hope this message gets to the power that are in Zurich. This call is not political, it is not driven by confrontation but by necessity,” the players said in the video.

. @FIFAcom @FIFPRO @FIFPROAsiaOce @FPAI pic.twitter.com/urNqYfmVcH

— Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (@GurpreetGK) January 2, 2026

“It might sound like a big word but the truth is that we are facing a humanitarian, sporting and economic crisis. And of course, we need rescuing at the earliest.

“Players, staff, owners and the fans deserve clarity, protection and more importantly, a future.”