Sunil Chhetri breaks silence on ISL's indefinite suspension: 'Football has to resume soon. It will'

Indian football star Sunil Chhetri has expressed fear about the indefinite suspension of the Indian Super League (ISL) as domestic football in the country faces an unprecedented crisis. The ISL is run by the Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) under a Master Rights Agreement (MRA) signed with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in 2010. The 15-year agreement ends in December 2025 and AIFF’s failure to strike a new agreement has put ISL's future in doubt.

The talks between AIFF and FSDL have not progressed since the Indian governing body for football formed an eight-member task force to finalise a new MRA by April. The Supreme Court’s directive to AIFF not to sign any major agreement since its review of its constitution has added to the uncertainty.

More from Football

Durand Cup 2025: Prize money triples but ISL participation drops amid uncertainty after suspension Explained: Why ISL's immediate future is closely associated with Supreme Court’s verdict in AIFF constitution matter

Chhetri breaks silence on ISL’s indefinite suspension

The Bengaluru FC striker and star striker, Chhetri, on Wednesday took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his concerns over the delay in finalising the new MRA and indefinite suspension of the ISL. He said that “Everybody in the Indian football ecosystem is worried, hurt and scared” about the uncertainty.

When my phone went off a few weeks ago informing us of a delay in pre-season by a fortnight, I must admit it made me smile. And that’s because I was on vacation, hadn’t moved as much as I would have liked to, and hadn’t been eating as clean as I usually do. I had more time than I… pic.twitter.com/pEGyr8Sp5O

— Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) July 16, 2025

“The current situation that Indian football finds itself in, is very concerning. I’ve received a flurry of texts from players, staff members, physios, masseurs – not just from my club, but from other clubs as well. Everybody in the Indian football ecosystem is worried, hurt, scared about the uncertainty we are faced with,” Chhetri wrote on X.

“I know that the think tank and all those involved in running the sport are working to get the football season up and running, and I’m hopeful that there is a solid fix sooner rather than later.”

The 40-year-old legendary footballer, who has scored 95 goals for India, also asked the stakeholders to support each other during a troubled period.

“I may not have all the answers, but my message to all those involved with Indian football – and more importantly the ones whose livelihood depends on it, the players, staff, kitmen, masseurs, medical teams, production crews, operations staff – please stay calm. We’ll ride this storm together. Stick together and look out for each other. Keep training and getting better. Football has to resume soon. It will.”

The 2025-26 season of ISL was expected to start in September this year, but it currently does not feature in AIFF’s 2025-26 calendar for Indian football.