 "ISL clubs offer to run crisis-hit Indian top-flight league in letter to AIFF: ‘Future of ISL depends on immediate steps’")
The Indian Super League remains in a state of limbo after failing to attract a single bid in its hunt for a new commercial partner, with the existing 15-year Master Rights Agreement between the All India Football Federation and the Football Sports Development Limited expiring on Monday, 8 December.
The clubs that play in the highest division of Indian football, meanwhile, have urged the AIFF to take urgent steps, starting with removing clauses in its new Supreme Court-approved constitution that renders the tender process unworkable, in order to zero in on a new commercial partner at the earliest.
‘Central revenue has ceased entirely’
The clubs, who face the possibility of losing out on a large chunk of their income after the expiry of the current MRA, are hopeful such a step will ensure “the sport is not imperilled by procedural delay”.
“While majority of the clubs have continued to honour salaries and contractual dues to players and staff in good faith, the current position is not merely challenging it is approaching commercial impossibility and risks rendering ongoing operations untenable,” read the email to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey from the 13 clubs.
“For nearly eleven years, ISL clubs have continued to invest substantially in football in India despite persistent losses on strength of a predictable league structure and, most critically, central revenue. This revenue stream has historically been the principal source of income that enabled clubs to manage salaries, infrastructure, and sporting operations.”
“With the expiry of the MRA and the consequent absence of a commercial rights holder, central revenue has ceased entirely. The uncertainty has also caused local sponsors to withdraw or pause commercial commitments, leaving clubs with no viable income whatsoever, despite ongoing obligations,” it continued.
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The 2025-26 ISL season was initially scheduled to get underway in September, but remains suspended for now, forcing multiple clubs including defending champions Mohun Bagan SG to suspend first-team operations.
And desperate to see the 12th season up and running soon, the clubs – all ISL teams excluding East Bengal as well as the newly-promoted Inter Kashi – have even offered to run the league on their own.
They have requested the AIFF to “consider a framework under which the ISL clubs may collectively form a consortium to own/operate the league (as majority owners), alongside the Federation and aligned commercial/broadcast/private investors.”
READ: 'ISL must be held': Centre 'fully aware' of AIFF crisis, tells SC that league will go ahead
The clubs also emphasised the importance of seeking the government’s help at the earliest once the current MRA ends on 8 October, stating that “time is now of the essence. The viability of the clubs and indeed the future of the ISL and the Indian football ecosystem depends on immediate steps being placed before the Hon’ble Supreme Court.
“It is, therefore, imperative that the report of the Union of India and/or the AIFF on the actions proposed to be taken in respect of the issues highlighted herein be filed on or before 8 December 2025, so that the Court is apprised of the remedial pathway and commercial certainty can be restored without further delay.”
AIFF responds to mail from ISL clubs
The AIFF, meanwhile, has stated that it has forwarded their mail “to the Ministry of Sports, Govt of India for their information and necessary action.
“The AIFF shall also put in all possible effort as per our AIFF Constitution to ensure ISL gets a long-term sustainable model for growth and development of Indian football.
“We are also forwarding this mail to KPMG to work on a suitable solution, including the possibility of issuing a re-tender keeping time constraints in mind,” the Delhi-based governing body added, referring to the accounting firm which had prepared the bid papers that failed to attract any interest last month.
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