New Delhi: Amid rising uncertainty surrounding the Indian Super League (ISL), the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has scheduled a crucial meeting with the CEOs of eight ISL clubs on August 7 in New Delhi to address growing concerns about the league’s direction and operational clarity.
The meeting comes in response to a formal communication sent by eight of the league’s franchises expressing alarm over the current status of Indian football and the indefinite postponement of the upcoming ISL season. The clubs flagged their inability to plan effectively in the absence of structured engagement with either the AIFF or Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) — the commercial partner and league organiser.
“The AIFF will meet CEOs from eight Indian Super League clubs on Thursday, August 7, in New Delhi, to discuss pressing issues related to Indian football,” the federation posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The crisis was triggered when FSDL, which manages the ISL under a 15-year Master Rights Agreement (MRA) with the AIFF, announced that the 2025–26 season would be “put on hold” due to uncertainty over the extension of the MRA, which is set to expire on December 18, 2025.
The lack of clarity has raised alarm bells within the football ecosystem, affecting not only clubs but also thousands of players, support staff, and other stakeholders whose livelihoods depend on the league’s continuity.
Adding to the complexity, the Supreme Court has directed the AIFF to refrain from entering into any new MRA terms with FSDL until it delivers a final verdict on the draft AIFF constitution. This has effectively frozen discussions around renewing the commercial agreement.
The eight clubs — Bengaluru FC, Jamshedpur FC, FC Goa, Hyderabad FC, Kerala Blasters, NorthEast United FC, Odisha FC, and Punjab FC — jointly addressed a letter to the AIFF highlighting the paralysis caused by the lack of engagement and certainty.
“In the absence of a clear roadmap or interaction with either the AIFF or FSDL, we are unable to make decisions critical to the smooth functioning of professional football operations. This goes beyond immediate planning and is now threatening the very structure of our institutions,” the clubs wrote, calling for a “constructive dialogue.”
Notably, three of the biggest names in Indian football — Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal, and Mohammedan Sporting — as well as Mumbai City FC and Chennaiyin FC, were not among the signatories.
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey had earlier attempted to allay fears, asserting that the ISL would be held this season. However, he did not provide any timeline or concrete assurance regarding when the season would begin or how the league would proceed if the MRA remains unresolved.
“If the league doesn’t take place, it is not only footballers who will be affected, but also thousands of individuals who are directly or indirectly linked with the sport. We are committed to ensuring the league happens,” Chaubey had said last month.
Despite these assurances, the continued silence on key structural and operational questions has further intensified anxiety within the clubs.
The Supreme Court’s directive to pause negotiations on the MRA stems from its ongoing examination of the AIFF draft constitution case. Legal experts suggest that any new agreement — particularly one with long-term commercial implications — would need to conform to the final version of the constitution once approved.
With the ISL typically kicking off in September and no schedule in sight, the risk of a delayed or even canceled season looms large. That, in turn, could impact grassroots development, sponsorships, and fan engagement — all of which were showing signs of healthy growth in recent years.
The August 7 meeting is expected to be a decisive moment. Stakeholders will seek clarity not just on the fate of the upcoming season, but also on long-term commitments, governance structures, and the league’s roadmap post-MRA.
With the clock ticking and the Supreme Court judgment still pending, the future of India’s premier football league hangs in the balance. The outcome of Thursday’s meeting could very well determine whether Indian football continues its momentum — or plunges into uncertainty once again.
