The All India Football Federation has softened its stance amid growing unease among Indian Super League clubs, indicating it is open to the creation of an additional governing body if the clubs formally pursue the idea.
The shift comes after a collective pushback from 13 of the 14 ISL teams, who questioned the federation’s roadmap for the league’s long-term commercial and administrative structure and instead called for a new working committee to ensure greater clarity and shared decision-making.
Despite already having a governing council and a previously formed managing committee in place, clubs argued that the existing mechanisms have not adequately addressed their concerns. The proposed working group is expected to feature a mix of owners and senior executives from across franchises, reflecting a more unified front from the clubs as they seek a stronger voice in shaping the league’s future.
In his response, AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey maintained that the current committees were established precisely to facilitate dialogue and collective decisions, while defending the federation’s handling of the commercial tender process.
“The governing council and the managing committee were meant to act as a forum for informed dialogue and collective decision-making,” he wrote, adding, “The tender process for appointing a long-term commercial rights partner for the ISL and the Federation Cup has been conducted transparently, and in compliance with the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, in the previous instance.”
At the same time, Chaubey left the door open for further restructuring, stating, “However, should you wish to propose the formation of any additional committees, the AIFF welcomes your suggestions.”
As part of ongoing consultations, the federation has also facilitated direct interaction between clubs and one of the key bidders, Genius Sports, with a meeting scheduled following the clubs’ insistence on deeper engagement.
Behind the governance debate lies a more pressing concern, money. Genius Sports has tabled a significantly larger financial package, offering ₹64 crore in the first year and a projected ₹2,129 crore over a 20-year cycle with a steady annual increment.
In comparison, FanCode has proposed ₹36 crore upfront and around ₹1,190 crore across the same period. From these deals, the AIFF is set to receive a fixed 20 percent share, translating to ₹12.8 crore or ₹7.2 crore in the opening year depending on the bidder, while the rest would be used to run and produce the league.
Clubs, however, are less concerned about the headline figures and more about what ultimately flows into their own accounts. With the commercial partner expected to control a majority stake in the league’s revenue structure, clarity on distribution has become a sticking point.
“As per our understanding, AIFF will be secured of at least ₹27 crore (including ₹1 crore participation fee from a minimum of 14 clubs) from the first year, but how much will clubs get?” a club official said, reflecting a sentiment shared across franchises.
The uncertainty has only deepened calls for financial guarantees, with another pointed remark capturing the mood, “After spending so much over the years, clubs would seek a guaranteed inflow of funds from the revenue pool. Hopefully, we will have all our queries answered on Thursday.”
