The three-member committee appointed by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to find a way forward to the Indian Super League’s (ISL) resumption has begun internal deliberations, with each member submitting individual proposals on how the league can be organised this season.
According to sources, the committee members are scheduled to meet again on Tuesday evening to examine the merits and drawbacks of the submitted proposals and consolidate them into a single draft. The final proposal will then be presented to ISL clubs for discussions on organising the league in the ongoing season.
The committee was constituted following the AIFF Annual General Meeting held on December 20, after a proposal regarding the future of the ISL was submitted by 10 clubs and presented by Mohun Bagan Super Giant CEO Vinay Chopra. With the proposal, seeking perpetual rights to run the league, drawing mixed reactions from the house, the Federation decided to form a panel to work towards a resolution.
The committee comprises Kerala Football Association president Navas Meeran, Goa Football Association president Caitano Fernandes and Indian Football Association (West Bengal) secretary Anirban Datta, with AIFF deputy secretary general M. Satyanarayan serving as an ex-officio member. The panel is mandated to hold consultations with five ISL clubs—Chennaiyin FC, Mumbai City FC, Delhi SC, NorthEast United FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant—between December 22 and 29.
Speaking about the process, Datta said the committee moved quickly after being entrusted with the responsibility. “We held a meeting immediately after the committee was formed. I felt there was no time to waste, and that is why I submitted my proposal without delay, keeping in mind the interests of all stakeholders,” he said.
Datta added that the proposals were framed around three key aspects—ensuring the league meets AFC requirements, making it financially viable, and finding a practical way to conduct the competition this season. “AIFF is running at a loss and clubs have also suffered financially this season. So cost efficiency had to be a major consideration,” he noted.
According to Datta, one of the key suggestions is to conduct the ISL at two centralised venues—Kolkata and Goa—to reduce travel costs and logistical challenges. Under this model, clubs from the eastern region, including NorthEast United FC, Jamshedpur FC, Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Mohammedan Sporting, Inter Kashi and Odisha FC, would be based in Kolkata, while teams from southern India would play their matches in Goa. The teams would be divided into two groups, staying and playing at the same venues to minimise travel.
“The idea is that teams stay and play at one location, which will significantly reduce travel time and expenses,” Datta said, adding that the proposal submitted from West Bengal includes a higher number of matches.
Goa Football Association president Caitano Fernandes has also submitted a similar proposal, though with fewer matches. Datta explained that the Goa proposal takes into account the matches already played by clubs in the Super Cup, and whether those games would be counted by the AFC while assessing eligibility criteria for continental competitions.
The committee is now expected to evaluate both proposals and merge them into a single plan. “We have another meeting tonight to finalise the proposal. After that, we will sit with the ISL clubs very soon,” Datta said.
He stressed that while the immediate priority is to get the league running, long-term stability will also be discussed with the clubs. “Clubs want stability, and that is something we will keep in mind while talking to them,” he said.
Datta also underlined the urgency of resuming the league. “If the ISL stops, it becomes very difficult to attract sponsors or commercial partners in the future. Continuity is extremely important,” he said.
According to the committee member, discussions with clubs will determine the final timeline, but efforts are being made to start the league by the third week of January, with the season potentially running until May.
“I spoke to representatives of a few ISL clubs before submitting the proposal. I believe the clubs will find it workable. At the moment, I don’t see any other viable option to conduct the league,” Datta added.
However, ISL clubs have maintained a cautious stance. Reacting to media reports, a club CEO said no formal proposal has been shared with them yet. “We need to understand the proposal in its entirety. Right now, there are only media reports. Once the operating plan and financial details are presented to us, we will be in a position to take an informed decision,” the official said.
This season the ISL has remained in limbo, after the expiry of its agreement with Football Sports Development Limited on December 8. With no commercial partner in place yet, the coming days are expected to be crucial for determining the immediate future of India’s top-tier football league.
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