Eleven out of 13 Indian Super League clubs have urged the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to bring the “current situation” surrounding the stricken league to the attention of the Supreme Court. The clubs have stated that if the federation fails to do so, they will have “no option but to seek judicial recourse independently.” The letter has been sent to the federation just a day after it met representatives of 13 ISL clubs and of the Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) in New Delhi.
The upcoming season of the ISL is currently suspended due to the non-renewal of the Master Rights Agreement between the AIFF and the FSDL, which is set to expire in December 2025. Negotiations have been stalled due to an oral directive from the Supreme Court that no major decision be taken by the federation until its final orders have been passed on a case pertaining to the AIFF’s constitution.
“Based on legal advice, the ISL clubs are preparing to independently approach the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India for relief,” said the clubs in the letter sent on Friday. Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal are the only clubs whose signatures are missing in the letter.
The clubs further said that they were “somewhat surprised” that the matter has not already been brought to the court’s attention, given its gravity and implications for the sport”.
“We respectfully urge the AIFF, in its capacity as the statutory regulator of football in India and the principal party to the proceedings, to urgently bring the current situation to the attention of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India,” the 11 ISL clubs said in a joint letter addressed to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey. “This may be done by mentioning the matter for urgent listing and judgment and apprising the Hon’ble Court of the current situation to ensure that the ISL and associated competitions may proceed.”
A domino effect of the uncertainty is already beginning to take shape. Chennaiyin FC and Odisha FC have suspended first-team operations, while Bengaluru FC have suspended salaries for those part of the first team setup – the coaching staff and the players, among whom is India’s record goal-scorer Sunil Chhetri.
