New Delhi: The future of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 season hangs in the balance as organisers Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) have reportedly informed club owners that the league will not begin until there is clarity over the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) with the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
The MRA, signed in 2010 for a 15-year term, grants FSDL exclusive rights to broadcast, manage, and commercialise Indian football—including the national team—in exchange for an annual payment of ₹50 crore to the AIFF. The agreement is due to expire in December 2025, and uncertainty looms over whether it will be extended, renegotiated, or replaced by a new structure.
According to sources close to the matter, FSDL has verbally communicated to ISL clubs that the upcoming season will not commence unless a clear decision is made regarding the MRA’s future. However, the AIFF has stated that it has not received any formal communication from FSDL about the delay or status of the ISL.
“We have not received any communication from the FSDL regarding the ISL,” AIFF Deputy Secretary General M. Satyanarayan said.
Typically, the ISL season kicks off in September, but with just a few months left and no agreement in place, the 2025-26 edition is now shrouded in uncertainty.
Complicating matters further is an ongoing Supreme Court case concerning the AIFF’s constitution, in which the court had, on April 30, reserved its verdict. Until a final judgment is delivered, the AIFF has been barred from taking major decisions, including those involving long-term commercial contracts like the MRA.
In anticipation of the verdict, the AIFF had constituted an eight-member task force in April to oversee discussions around the MRA. Notably, former India captain and AIFF Executive Committee member Bhaichung Bhutia had advised the federation to wait for the Supreme Court ruling before proceeding with negotiations.
“If the court orders new AIFF elections, the new office bearers will have to renegotiate the MRA, which will further delay proceedings,” said a former federation official. Still, the official added, there may be a window to hold the season—albeit with a compressed schedule—depending on how quickly matters are resolved.
Adding to the confusion, the AIFF’s official 2025-26 competition calendar, released last month, did not mention the ISL. This sparked speculation about the league’s status. However, sources clarified that the calendar only includes tournaments directly conducted by the AIFF, such as the I-League and Santosh Trophy.
“ISL dates are finalised in consultation with FSDL. Since ISL is not run directly by the AIFF, its omission from the calendar is not unusual,” a source said.
Meanwhile, FSDL is reportedly exploring structural changes in how the ISL is managed. One proposal includes creating a new holding company with equity shared among ISL clubs (60%), FSDL (26%), and the AIFF (14%). Other properties like the I-League and national teams might be managed under different arrangements, but those plans remain in early, undefined stages.
With the Supreme Court verdict expected in July, all stakeholders—clubs, fans, and officials—will be watching closely. Until then, the fate of India’s premier football league remains uncertain, as legal and administrative roadblocks continue to delay key decisions.
