The future of the Indian Super League (ISL) has been thrown into question, with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) set to meet the CEOs of eight clubs this Thursday in New Delhi. The talks come amidst mounting concerns over the 2025-26 season, with the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between AIFF and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the league’s operator, hanging in the balance.
The uncertainty has already begun to affect club operations. Bengaluru FC, champions in 2018-19 and three-time runners-up, including last year, has informed its players that salaries will be withheld until clarity emerges. Odisha FC has suspended player contracts, while several teams, including Bengaluru and Kerala Blasters, have pulled out of the ongoing Durand Cup.
In a letter sent on July 28, club officials sought urgent dialogue with the federation, warning that the lack of direction is pushing teams into crisis. Thursday’s meeting will include representatives from clubs such as Bengaluru FC, Kerala Blasters, and FC Goa.
At the heart of the issue lies the MRA, which expires this December. Under normal circumstances, AIFF and FSDL would be expected to negotiate a renewal. However, the Supreme Court has barred both parties from doing so until it delivers judgment in a long-pending case related to AIFF’s 2017 elections, which were held in violation of the National Sports Code. The court had tasked retired Justice L. Nageswara Rao with drafting a new AIFF constitution, and discussions remain frozen until the ruling.
Even before the court’s order, preliminary talks between AIFF and FSDL revealed sharp differences over the structure of a new agreement, further complicating the situation.
Adding another layer of uncertainty is the Union Government’s proposed National Sports Governance Bill, which is expected to be tabled in the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament. Observers say it is unclear whether the bill’s provisions will influence the SC-approved constitution of AIFF, or alter the balance of power in Indian football governance.
The Supreme Court had reserved its judgment on April 30, but no date has yet been set for the pronouncement. Until then, India’s top football clubs remain in limbo, cutting costs and making contingency plans while awaiting clarity on the league’s future.
As Thursday’s meeting approaches, stakeholders hope for at least interim guidance from the AIFF. For now, though, the 2025-26 ISL season hangs in uncertainty, with India’s top football competition facing one of its most precarious moments since inception.
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