ISL clubs threaten to shut down permanently amidst the stand-off with AIFF!
Eleven Indian Super League (ISL) clubs have warned the All India Football Federation (AIFF) that they “face the real possibility of shutting down entirely” if the ongoing impasse regarding the future of the top-tier domestic competition is not resolved soon. In a letter written to AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, the clubs have stated, ‘The crisis arising out of the non-renewal of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between the national federation and the ISL organizers has paralyzed professional football in India.’ “Over the past 11 years, through sustained investment and coordinated effort, clubs have built youth development systems, training infrastructure, community outreach programs, and professional teams that have elevated India’s football credibility both domestically and internationally,” the clubs wrote in the letter sent on Friday. “This progress is now in imminent danger of collapse. The current standstill has created immediate and severe consequences. With operations suspended and no certainty on league continuity, several clubs face the real possibility of shutting down entirely.” The crisis surfaced after Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the ISL organizers as well as AIFF’s commercial partner, put the 2025-26 season “on hold” on 11th July due to uncertainty over the renewal of the MRA, prompting at least three clubs to either pause first-team operations or suspend player and staff salaries. “The 2025-26 ISL season is at risk of not taking place at all. This is not merely an administrative deadlock — it is an existential crisis for Indian football. We write to you in the gravest of circumstances,” the clubs wrote. “The trust painstakingly built with fans, sponsors, investors, and international football bodies over the past decade will be irreparably damaged if the league remains in limbo.” Bengaluru FC, Hyderabad FC, Odisha FC, Chennaiyin FC, Jamshedpur FC, FC Goa, Kerala Blasters FC, Punjab FC, NorthEast United FC, Mumbai City FC, and Mohammedan Sporting signed the letter. Kolkata heavyweights Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal did not sign the letter.
Eight ISL clubs request dialogue with AIFF chief Kalyan Chaubey
Eight of 13 Indian Super League clubs seek a dialogue with the All India Football Federation president, Kalyan Chaubey, since they face operational challenges that have “paralyzed” their youth operations. With the ISL put on an indefinite hold amid a contractual deadlock on the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between the AIFF and its marketing partners, Reliance subsidiary Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), clubs have decided to approach Chaubey with a “sense of shared concern and responsibility”. Bengaluru FC, FC Goa, Punjab FC, Hyderabad FC, Kerala Blasters, Odisha FC, NorthEast United, and Jamshedpur FC want clear communication with Chaubey to prevent erosion of a structure that they put in place over the years, once the Supreme Court halted negotiations between the AIFF and FSDL. The two parties had rejected offers and counter-offers in April, leading to the apex court putting a stop to formal communications, adding that any agreement would have to be signed with a new committee that comes into power after elections. The Court has also reserved its judgment on AIFF’s constitution, based on which elections would be held at a yet-to-be-decided date. It led to five of the eight signatories (BFC, Goa, HFC, KBFC, and OFC) pulling out of the ongoing Durand Cup due to the prevailing uncertainty in Indian football. According to a report from News9 Sports, reigning ISL Cup and Shield champions Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Mohammedan Sporting, Mumbai City, and Chennaiyin FC haven’t signed on the letter. “…in the absence of proper interaction and a lack of taking clubs into confidence — either from the All India Football Federation or its commercial rights holder — clubs now find themselves unable to plan with the level of visibility and certainty that professional football operations require,” the clubs wrote. “This has impacted not just short-term decisions but is now beginning to affect the structural backbone of our institutions. Activities such as youth development, player recruitment, staffing, budgeting, and grassroots programming—all of which require months of planning—have become increasingly difficult to sustain. “The longer this uncertainty continues, the greater the risk that years of hard-won progress may begin to unravel. Worryingly, most clubs have also been forced to paralyse their youth operations due to the current climate—halting scouting, coaching, and academy-related activities. Since continued participation in competitions at every age-group level requires “substantial operational and financial commitments”, clubs find sustainability a challenge in a climate where “clarity on the season’s structure, central revenues, and scheduling remains elusive”. “We believe that now, more than ever, constructive dialogue between the AIFF and the participating clubs is critical. We therefore respectfully request a formal opportunity for consultation with your honorable self so that we may align on the present landscape and collaboratively explore how best to navigate this period in a manner that safeguards the collective future of Indian football. We intend to understand — and to contribute wherever possible to — the process of resolution,” the clubs said. An AIFF official confirmed acceptance of the letter but declined to comment, insisting a formal statement will be put out soon.
