Supreme Court conveys the Union government’s promise to support the AIFF for the ISL
The Union government has finally come forward, extending cooperation to the All Indian Football Federation (AIFF) by taking responsibility to solve the ongoing stalemate in the Indian Super League (ISL). Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the apex court on Friday that the government has taken stock of the crisis that the AIFF faces after a failed tender process for monetization of the country’s premier league. He assured a special bench of Justices PS Narasimha and J Bagchi that the government is committed to providing relief to the players and clubs and would find a way for the tournament to be held. Mehta said that the concerned minister is “fully aware” of the situation and has clarified that the “ISL must be held. How it is to be held, what sponsors, who will finance, etc, can be left to the government. The government would intervene to ensure that the ISL is held and our players are not put to any disadvantage,” he said during the hearing. “We will ensure that players are not put at any disadvantage due to a lack of sponsors or a lack of club owners. The government’s role, though, shouldn’t be too overbearing to give the impression of interference, the bench pointed out. “We don’t want to put the impression that the government is again interfering. It is only to tide over the situation,” the justices said. “Absolutely, otherwise, we have no role,” Mehta agreed, adding the government will bear in mind that “anything being done should be in conformity with FIFA regulation so that we may not fall foul of that”. Twelve ISL clubs had appealed to the Supreme Court for a speedy resolution, while Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had met representatives of I-League clubs on 13th November in New Delhi and was apprised of concerns over the football season. Amicus Curiae Gopal Sankaranarayanan advised the Centre to engage with clubs while also recommending a dialogue with the four potential bidders, who had attended pre-bid meetings. The Court agreed on Mehta’s request for time to come up with a solution and said it would again hear the matter after two weeks, keeping in mind AIFF’s current 15-year commercial partnership with Reliance-subsidiary FSDL ends on 8th December. The AIFF, having pledged to submit an affidavit to the Court, has called for a special general meeting to vote on the disputed co-existing membership on 24th November.
AIFF draws anger for confusing Executive committee members with a notice in the morning and a call for a Zoom meeting in the evening on the same day!
A major section of the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) are reportedly angry with the Federation’s top brass after creating an utmost confusion with two emergent notices, one in the morning and the other in the evening for a zoom-meeting on the same day on Wednesday! Executive Committee members are not only angry with such whimsical behavior from their their top-brass, they seem to be extremely frustrated for not being given sufficient time to respond. The Executive Committee members were scheduled to have a meeting as they received e-mails where the AIFF top-brass sought suggestions from them on alternative plans to organize the ISL. A letter from AIFF’s Deputy Secretary General, M. Satyanarayan, had been circulated earlier in the day, inviting written feedback by 5 pm. But on the same evening, barely half an hour before the deadline, another email was sent, replacing the written response with a hastily scheduled Zoom meeting at 7 pm. Some members who received the message even later, expressed more displeasure. According to report published by The Sportstar, M. Satyanarayan wrote, “As you may be aware, Hon’ble Justice L.N Rao (Retired. Supreme Court Judge) is expected to submit his report on the All India Football Federation’s Request for Qualification (RFQ), prepared by KPMG, for the selection of a commercial partner to manage and monetize AIFF’s commercial rights for a defined period. While the matter remains under consideration of the Honourable Supreme Court, it is likely that once Justice Rao’s report is submitted and the matter is mentioned by AIFF, the Court may seek clarification regarding any alternate plan that AIFF has to organize and manage the ISL in accordance with its Constitution. In this context, we seek your valuable views and suggestions.” The AIFF had earlier floated a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking a commercial partner for the ISL for 15 years, offering rights worth ₹37.4 crore annually. The new arrangement was to begin after the current agreement with Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) expires in December 2025. But after the extended deadline closed on November 7 (5 p.m.), the federation received no bids. The Bid Evaluation Committee, chaired by Justice Rao, met on Sunday and is now expected to submit its report to the Supreme Court, i “While the matter remains under consideration of the Honourable Supreme Court, it is likely that once Justice Rao’s report is submitted and the matter is mentioned by AIFF, the Court may seek clarification regarding any alternate plan that AIFF has to organise and manage the ISL in accordance with its Constitution. In this context, we seek your valuable views and suggestions.” The AIFF had earlier floated a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking a commercial partner for the ISL for 15 years, offering rights worth ₹37.4 crore annually. The new arrangement was to begin after the current agreement with Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) expires in December 2025. But after the extended deadline closed on November 7 (5 p.m.), the federation received no bids. The Bid Evaluation Committee, chaired by Justice Rao, met on Sunday and is now expected to submit its report to the Supreme Court, incorporating inputs from the ExCo. Ahead of Wednesday’s meeting, Executive Commitee members declined to comment on the ISL’s future. However, the sudden letter, landing hardly two hours before the scheduled discussion, caused visible discontent within the federation. The Federation is not united anymore. We don’t really know what the future of ISL and I-League will be,” an AIFF official told Sportstar on condition of anonymity. “Though there has been a lot of talk going on, there has been no clarity, no written documents. Most Executive Committee members have not been kept in the loop. I don’t want the AIFF to continue like this.”
Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, add the list of footballers, appeal for the resumption of the ISL
Country’s several leading footballers, like Shouvik Chakrabarty and Sandesh Jinghan, and even foreigners like Adrian Luna, expressing their frustration, have urged the country’s football ruling body to do the best that can resume ISL. Now, two more leading footballers of the country Sunil Chhetri and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu have added the list. Both the footballers, frustrated by the ongoing stalemate in Indian football, have posted an impassioned plea on social media urging “those involved in running our sport in the country, to do whatever it takes to get the football season underway”. The ISL typically begins in September. But right now, there is no clarity on when it will begin, with the league already having missed two months of its regular calendar. This has led to some teams suspending operations. Many top footballers have been without competitive football for months. There are reports that even training schedules and salary payments have been disrupted. “We, professional footballers who play in the Indian Super League, are coming together to make a plea and, more importantly, to send the message that we stand united in our efforts to get the Indian Super League season underway. To put it simply, we want to play and now,” footballers like Chhetri and Sandhu wrote in a joint statement they posted on their social media handles. Our anger, frustration and distress has now been replaced by desperation. Desperation to play the game we love, in front of people who mean everything to us, our families, our fans. This is a plea to all those involved in running our sport in the country, to do whatever it takes to get the football season underway. India needs its competitive football now more than ever,” the statement read. Sharing the statement on his Instagram handle, Cheetri wrote: “We are all standing shoulder to shoulder, willing to do whatever it takes to resurrect the sport we love.” Sandhu’s message read, “We find ourselves in the midst of our hardest challenge yet. And yet, all we can do at this point is plead.”
AIFF in crisis as ISL draws zero bidders!
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) finds itself in a soup after failing to receive any bid for its top-flight Indian Super League. Till the deadline of 5pm IST on Friday, there was no bid on the table, leading to further uncertainty in Indian football. For a league that was once positioned as the face of Indian football’s growth, the absence of even one proposal signals deeper trouble than the AIFF may have anticipated. The AIFF, which issued an official request for proposal on 16th October, had plans to find a new partner for the next 15 years to run the ISL’s broadcast, sponsorship, digital, and merchandising rights. The AIFF tried to build confidence around the process — KPMG as advisors, Justice L. Nageswara Rao keeping an eye on fairness, and a clean slate for bidders to step into. However, four entities attended a pre-bid meeting on October 15 to seek clarity on various terms and conditions, including an asking price of a minimum of Rs 37.5 crore. Bids were sought after the AIFF replied to 234 queries on 29th October, extending the initial deadline by two days from 5th November at the request of two parties according to News 9 Sports. The AIFF’s existing partnership with Reliance-subsidiary Football Sports Development Ltd. ends in December, and bids were sought after an agreement in which it lifted a ‘right to match’ clause that existed in the earlier deal signed in December 2010 that guaranteed them rights to all competitions in exchange for an annual average sum of Rs 50 crores. An AIFF official revealed to News 9 Sports on condition of anonymity that no bid has been placed. Even FSDL didn’t place a bid. Hours before the bid-submitting deadline, former Andhra Pradesh Football Association president Gopalakrishna Kosaraju filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking exclusion of Chaubey from the bid evaluation committee and appointment of an independent member in the interest of “fairness, transparency, & institutional integrity”. “This is a clear failure of President Chaubey, and a no-confidence motion should be brought against him now,” he said.
Ten ISL clubs write urgent letter to AIFF over tender delay
The future of India’s top football league is facing confusion again. Ten Indian Super League (ISL) clubs have jointly sent a sharp warning to the All India Football Federation (AIFF), accusing it of a “breach of trust” over the delay in finalizing the tender for a new commercial partner. According to the Supreme Court’s directions, the tender to decide the league’s commercial and organizational rights was meant to be completed by 15th October this year. With that deadline already passed and no updates or documents released, the clubs seem to have lost their patience. In a letter addressed to AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey and the federation’s executive committee, the clubs expressed they were “deeply disappointed” with the lack of progress and communication. The letter was signed by Chennaiyin FC, Punjab FC, Hyderabad FC, Bengaluru FC, FC Goa, NorthEast United, Kerala Blasters, Odisha FC, Jamshedpur FC, and Mumbai City FC. Significantly, Mohun Bagan Super Giants, East Bengal, and Mohammedan Sporting were not part of the move. The clubs reminded the AIFF of its joint submission to the Supreme Court in August, where it had promised a fair and open bidding process to select a new commercial partner after the current deal with Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) ends in December 2025. “It is very evident that we are yet to even begin the process, let alone complete it,” the clubs said. “The lack of communication from the AIFF has been deeply disappointing, and the silence surrounding this matter has caused further erosion of confidence among clubs and other stakeholders.” The Supreme Court had appointed former judge Justice Nageswara Rao to supervise the process, with KPMG India managing the bidding and evaluation. Yet, more than six weeks after the court’s deadline, there has been no official update, leaving clubs frustrated and uncertain.
Inter Kashi seeks UP Football Association’s guidance to settle home-match venue in ISL this season
Sudeep Pakrashi: Inter Kashi, the 2024-25 I-League champion has officially received the letter of promotion to the ISL this season from the All India Football Federation on Wednesday. AIFF Deputy Secretary General Satyanarayan M confirmed the decision in a letter to Inter Kashi President Prithijit Das and the letter has said, ‘Following a thorough deliberation and in compliance with the final and binding award issued by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the AIFF is pleased to officially declare Inter Kashi FC as the champions of the I-League 2024-25. This decision is based on the AIFF’s obligations as a member of FIFA to respect and implement the decisions of CAS, which are integral to the regulatory framework of international football. The AIFF is pleased to confirm that, as champions of the I-League 2024-25, Inter Kashi FC is hereby promoted to the Indian Super League (ISL) for the upcoming season on sporting merit, subject to Inter Kashi fulfilling the League’s financial and technical mandates.’ The club now will have to solve one of its key issues, which is playing home-matches in the ISL. Inter Kashi selected Kalyani Stadium in West Bengal as the venue for the team’s home matches in the I-League for last two seasons. But Kalyani Stadium has not yet been approved for an ISL venue. Inter Kashi has been in the process to acquire the football stadium of Dr Sampurnanand Sports Complex in Sigra, Varanasi for last couple of years. But the stadium has not yet been ready. Prithiijit Das, the club president revealed while speaking to Parallel Sports, “The football ground and the stadium are there at Sigra, but uncertainty has loomed large over the completion of its construction work. Since we began our journey, we promised the AIFF that our home-match venue would be ready within five years. We will certainly play at home next year, but talking about this season, we will be discussing with UP Football Association as well as the AIFF for their guidance regarding our home-match venue.” Prithiijit hinted that after the organizer of the ISL is decided through the bidding process by the end of this month, they will have a clear picture about their home-match venue for the ISL. However, when asked about the building of team for the ISL, club president hinted also that most of the footballers who contributed to the team’s success in the I-League this season, are likely to be retained. The club will be roping in quality foreigners following advice from their Spanish coach Antonio Habas.
After ISL, tender for I-League to be floated also
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has planned to issue a commercial rights’ tender for the I-League and other national tournaments for this season. But the AIFF has not yet officially identified the champions and the two teams that have been relegated. At a virtual executive committee meeting on Thursday evening, arranged to discuss a pathway for the 2025-26 I-League, it was decided that this fresh tender will be called once the tender process for the ISL is put in motion. The I-League tender process will be launched once the deadline to submit request for quotation to manage and award ISL commercial rights ends on 14th September. “Since the contract handed I-League was only for one season, we don’t have a commercial partner in place for these tournaments now, so it was decided to float a fresh tender to attract bids for monetization,” an AIFF official said while speaking to News9 Sports. “We will have to start afresh for the I-League, so maybe after September 15 we will initiate the process once evaluation of RFQ’s for ISL is complete. Let the ISL process get over first, the I-League clubs also need time to assemble a squad,” another official said. No timeline has yet been set for bids for I-League, the 18th edition of which for 2024-25 began on November 22, 2024 and stretched till April 6, 2025. But like ISL, no such panel has been formed for the I-League yet as the same members are unlikely to be part of it, the AIFF official said.
AIFF decides to issue tender only for ISL in its executive committee meeting
The All India Football Federation will float a tender only for the Indian Super League as per the Supreme Court’s directive, it was decided at its emergent executive committee meeting held late on Saturday night. To oversee the entire tender process and rule out any foul play, a three-member oversight committee was formed, comprising Justice L. Nageswara Rao, AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, and a representative from the Asian Football Confederation. The AIFF had sold commercial rights of all its tournaments and properties, including the national teams, for a 15-year period to Reliance subsidiary FSDL in 2010 for Rs 50 crore per year. With the deal ending in December, the Court had urged both parties to prepare a joint proposal for the current season to progress. The proposal suggested commencement of the season with the Super Cup followed by a tender process for the marketing rights of the league. The entire process would be concluded by October 15 for the league to begin in December. On September 1, the Court had approved the proposal while appointing retired judge L Nageshwar Rao to oversee the tender process for maintenance of objectivity and transparency, following which the AIFF had called for an emergent meeting on Saturday. “The AIFF shall also issue necessary tenders inviting bids for open, competitive and transparent process for selection of its commercial partner to conduct Indian Super League,” the apex court had said in its order. However, in its agenda for the emergent Ex Co meeting, the AIFF had called for discussions for approval of the terms to float a request for quotation to select a professional services firm to manage the tendering process for “selection of a league operating partner”, without explicitly mentioning the ISL. When asked to clarify for which competition the tender will be put out, Chaubey made it clear at the meeting that it was only for the ISL, as per the Court’s directive. “Yes, the tender would only be for the ISL,” an AIFF official later confirmed toNews9 Sports. “For this purpose, we have requested and upon his agreement, appoint Justice L. Nageswara Rao, former Judge of this Court to ensure that the selection process enures in identifying a competent, reputed and an efficient firm as a commercial partner to conduct ISL, in line with global best practices. Justice L. Nageswara Rao may also appoint one or two professionals to assist him in this regard,” the Court had also said. In accordance with that directive, it was also decided that those seven members who were part of the committee for discussion on master rights agreement with FSDL will also be in the tender committee for selection of a league operating partner. On Friday, the AIFF had made informal queries with ISL clubs on their willingness to play in the Super Cup once the FIFA international window ends on October 14. While some clubs gave their consent, others sought greater clarity on the ISL tender and its initiation. “We need details on rights parameters and the fact that it should be realistically priced to encourage interested parties to bid for it. Also conclusion date of the process. Once we know more details on these points, we can think of participation,” a club CEO told News9 Sports. Taking that feedback into account, the AIFF has decided to formally write to clubs to seek their availability following which the decision on the tournament’s format would be finalised. The tournament “would be held from October 25 to November 22, in a phased manner”, the AIFF said in a statement on Sunday.
Supreme Court asks AIFF and FSDL to decide on conducting ISL within five days; Verdicts expected on 28th August.
Indian football fans remain uncertain about the future of the Indian Super League (ISL). The Supreme Court, during a scheduled hearing on Friday, instructed the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and league organizer, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), to meet and decide how to proceed with the league this year. Supreme Court has asked both the major stakeholders to submit their proposal on the matter in the next hearing scheduled on 28th August. The expiry of the 15-year MRA between AIFF and FSDL on 8th December has been the biggest impediment to getting the 2025-26 ISL season started. While marketing partners FSDL want to extend the contract and a guarantee from the AIFF, the national body has cited the impending SC judgment on its new constitution as the reason behind not signing an extension. In the AIFF Constitution case, the SC bench of Justice Sri Narasimha and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said that the judgment in the matter is ready, but they want to review the new National Sports Governance Bill before delivering a final verdict. All in all, the positive developments in the Supreme Court hint that if everything goes well, the issues related to ISL may get sorted soon, and the league could start in the next few months. Earlier on Thursday, the eleven Indian Super League clubs on Thursday urged the Amici curiae Gopal Sankaranarayanan and Samar Bansal to mention the ongoing crisis in front of the SC as they face an “existential crisis.”
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.
