Manchester City owners CFG ends partnership with Mumbai City FC over ISL uncertainty

City Football Group (CFG), the owners of Manchester City, have ended their partnership with Indian Super League (ISL) club Mumbai City FC due to the uncertainty surrounding the future of the league.

Mumbai City FC confirmed that CFG has divested its entire shareholding in the club, which means the founding owners - Ranbir Kapoor and Bimal Parekh - will now take full control. CFG had acquired a 65 percent stake in Mumbai City FC in November 2019, marking a major moment for Indian football as a global giant entered the ISL.

During their time with the club, CFG helped Mumbai City FC become one of the most successful teams in the league. The club won two ISL League Shields and two ISL Cup titles. The ISL League Shield is awarded to the team that finishes on top after the league stage, while the ISL Cup is given to the winner of the final.

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CFG ends investment in Mumbai City FC

In a statement, CFG said the decision was taken after a detailed commercial review and because of the ongoing uncertainty over the ISL’s future. “CFG has made this decision following a comprehensive commercial review and in light of the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future of the Indian Super League (ISL). This step reflects CFG’s disciplined and strategic approach ensuring its focus remains on areas where it can have the greatest long- term impact,” the statement read.

𝗢𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 pic.twitter.com/rsbY2F4m64

— Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) December 26, 2025

The 2025-26 season of India’s top-tier football league was expected to begin in September, but it has been put on hold. One of the main reasons is the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) failure to reach an agreement with Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the league’s commercial partner for the last 10 years.

After FSDL pulled out, AIFF was allowed by the Supreme Court to conduct an auction to find new bidders to run and operate the league. However, no bidders have come forward, adding to the instability around the ISL.

Meanwhile, the ISL clubs also offered to run and operate the league on their own, but the Kalyan Chaubey-led AIFF could not reach an agreement on that either. Some officials from the apex body even suggested that the clubs’ proposal be thrown into the dustbin and that the AIFF take full responsibility for starting and running both the ISL and I-League seasons.

The logjam continues for now, and there is no certainty over whether the new season will even start this year.