New Delhi: Bengaluru FC’s senior players, led by Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri, have agreed to a reduction in their salaries for the upcoming truncated Indian Super League (ISL) season, club owner Parth Jindal confirmed on Monday.
The 2026 ISL season, which has been delayed for over four months due to administrative and financial challenges, is scheduled to resume on February 14 in a shortened format.
Jindal said the decision came after open discussions between the club management and first-team players, reflecting the collective effort to navigate one of the most uncertain periods in Indian football. “Everyone is well aware of the challenging phase Indian football is going through,” he wrote on social media. “I am grateful to all the first-team players who have agreed to reduce their remuneration during this phase. This was one of the toughest decisions for the club, and the players’ willingness to make this sacrifice shows their commitment to Bengaluru FC and Indian football.”
The Bengaluru FC squad features national stalwarts including Chhetri and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. The club also announced former India international Renedy Singh as the new head coach for the upcoming season.
Bengaluru FC is not alone in taking such measures. Earlier, FC Goa players and staff, including India captain Sandesh Jhingan, also agreed to pay cuts, with the club praising the team for their “selfless” commitment.
The ISL faced upheaval after the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) former commercial partner, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), terminated the Master Rights Agreement in December over renewal disputes. A subsequent tender to appoint a new commercial partner failed to attract bidders.
Following intervention from the sports ministry and intensive negotiations, all 14 ISL clubs confirmed participation in the shortened season. Each team will play 13 matches, with a total of 91 fixtures scheduled. Clubs will collectively bear about 60% of the operational costs, estimated at approximately ₹1 crore per club, while the total league budget is pegged at ₹25 crore.
Fixtures for the truncated season are expected to be announced soon, as the league prepares for its February 14 restart.
