 "Indian football crisis: ISL clubs, players may move to Supreme Court; I-League clubs seek common league partner")
The crisis in Indian football and the lack of solutions from the All Indian Football Federation (AIFF) have forced the Indian Super League (ISL) clubs’ CEOs and players to file an independent petition in the Supreme Court to start the top division league, a report has claimed. The decision was taken by the clubs and players after the AIFF failed to find a new commercial partner for the ISL.
As AIFF’s deal for ISL with the Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) was to end on 8 December, but as both parties could not agree to extend the deal, the Supreme Court asked the national federation to float a new commercial rights tender. However, the AIFF received zero bids for the new tender.
As per reports, FSDL stayed away from bidding as despite being asked to pay a minimum of Rs 37.5 crore annually for the commercial rights of the tier-1 league for the next 15 years, the new AIFF constitution states that the national body would remain the sole owner of the league. In such a scenario, no private body wants to invest money in the ISL without having a majority voice.
ISL clubs, players to move Supreme Court
However, the unfortunate episode has pushed Indian football and the future of Indian football into an abyss. Concerned about their future, the ISL clubs and players have decided to approach the Supreme Court to get the league started.
“The league has to happen, there is no conflict between AIFF and us on this,” an ISL club CEO told the Hindustan Times. “One of the options discussed was whether clubs can run the league this term but we will wait for directions from the Supreme Court.”
The meeting between ISL clubs and players took place on Wednesday after they also attended a virtual meeting with AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey and deputy secretary-general Satyanarayan M. The AIFF had also invited I-League clubs, but they skipped the meeting.
The ISL and I-League clubs would also be meeting Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday to find a solution to the ongoing crisis.
“The Sports minister is meeting representatives of both I-League and ISL tomorrow to discuss the ongoing deadlock,” a ministry source told PTI.
The I-League clubs have also asked AIFF to have a “common league partner” to operate all the divisions, including ISL, I-League (Tier 1 and 2).
“We suggest all the three leagues, ISL, I-League and I-League-2 should be managed by one common league partner. This shall ensure long term holistic growth,” the letter of I-League clubs to AIFF stated.
It also demanded the announcement of the I-League in the next 10 days.
“The league should ideally commence by December 15, 2025 and no later than January 5, 2026. Needless to say the league should be telecast by top two broadcasters (Star Sports and Jio-Hotstar, Sony Sports and Sonly Liv).”
Earlier, top Indian footballers like Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Sandesh Jhingan had asked AIFF to find a way to start the new ISL season as soon as possible as the future of hundreds of footballers and support staff hangs in the balance.
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