 "ISL clubs urge AIFF to amend constitution or transfer long-term rights of the league: 'Only logical solution'")
The ongoing crisis in Indian football took a serious turn on Thursday as twelve Indian Super League (ISL) clubs urged the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to immediately amend the “commercially restrictive” clauses in its constitution. The clubs want these changes to be discussed and approved during the AIFF Annual General Meeting (AGM) on December 20.
The clubs also warned that if nothing is done soon, the domestic football structure could collapse. In a joint letter addressed to AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, the ISL clubs said that if the federation is unable to make the required amendments or create a commercially viable system, then the AIFF should transfer the long-term rights of the league to them.
ISL clubs warn AIFF
The clubs wrote that the federation must either support the removal of restrictive clauses or amend the constitution on its own at the upcoming AGM. They also said that after this, the AIFF, the government and the clubs can work together and look for a suitable commercial partner for the league. Mohun Bagan Super Giant director Vinay Chopra wrote the latest letter on behalf of all the clubs.
“The AIFF should either expressly support removal of commercially restrictive clauses in the Constitution, or itself undertake these amendments at the forthcoming AGM on 20 December 2025. Thereafter, the federation along with the support of the Government and the Clubs proceed to transparently identify an appropriate commercial partner,” the clubs wrote in their latest letter.
“If the AIFF is unwilling or unable to support the necessary amendments or provide a commercially viable framework for the league, then the only logical solution is for the Federation to transfer the long-term rights of the league to the Clubs,” the letter added.
This letter follows another request sent a few days ago, in which the clubs had asked AIFF to consider allowing them to form a consortium to own and run the league. The clubs said they could do this along with the national federation and new investors if no external commercial partner is found. The AIFF recently invited bids for ISL commercial rights but did not receive a single response, which resulted in the clubs to write these letters.
In their earlier letter dated December 5, the clubs had claimed that the AIFF has the authority to amend its own constitution without needing court orders. But in response to Thursday’s letter, AIFF deputy secretary general K Satyanarayan said the matter is complicated because the issue is currently pending in the Supreme Court. He said that since the L. N. Rao committee report is already with the court, AIFF’s options are limited.
“As the matter is currently sub judice before the Hon’ble Supreme Court, and with the report already submitted by Justice L. N. Rao to the Court, our options remain limited. At present, there are two possible approaches: 1. To await the final directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court; or 2. To collectively explore an amicable alternative solution,” Satyanarayan wrote in his reply to the clubs.
Indian football crisis
The 2025-26 ISL season was supposed to get underway in September, but was put on hold by the AIFF’s then commercial partner, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL). The season was suspended because the Masters Rights Agreements (MRA) between AIFF and FSDL was set to expire in December 2025. FSDL wanted a decision on the agreement before it could start the new season.
However, the AIFF couldn’t reach an agreement with FSDL on time because their new constitution was still being finalised by the Supreme Court. The SC allowed AIFF and FSDL to come up with a solution and start the league. Both parties submitted a joint plan. It said that the 2025-26 season would start with the Super Cup and the tender process to choose a commercial partner would be finished by October 15, and the new league season would begin by December 2025.
However, the league has still not started as the AIFF failed to attract any bids for the commercial rights of the ISL. It is still not clear when the new season of the ISL will begin. Several clubs paused football operations and stopped paying salaries to players and staff because of the delay in starting the league. While some have resumed normal operations, there are concerns about how long they will be able to continue.
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