The ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Indian Super League has reached a breaking point, as footballers from nearly every ISL club took to social media, posting a joint statement titled “A Statement, A Plea.” The players, including top names like Sunil Chhetri, Sandesh Jhingan, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, and Lallianzuala Chhangte, urged the authorities to act swiftly and restart the ISL season, which remains indefinitely delayed.
The message, shared simultaneously by most of the players, read: “We want to play, and now. Our anger, frustration and distress have now been replaced by desperation… All we ask of those running our beautiful game is to match our desperation with honest intent.”
The unified plea highlights the growing anxiety within India’s football community as the league, usually underway by September, remains stalled well into November. The ongoing deadlock follows the failure of the AIFF to attract a single bidder in its recent tender process to award ISL’s commercial rights, a development that has pushed the league and its stakeholders into uncertainty.
Players’ Plea Reflects Larger Concerns
For India’s professional footballers, the delay is more than just a scheduling issue, it directly affects their livelihood. “We want to play the game we love, in front of people who mean everything to us, our families, our fans,” the joint statement read.
Many players have been without competitive football for months, and with club operations frozen, even training schedules and salary payments have been disrupted. The players’ collective plea marks one of the rare moments in Indian football where professionals across rival clubs have spoken in one voice, demanding urgent action.
Clubs Suspend Operations Amid Crisis
The fallout from the failed tender process has already begun to affect clubs and players. Several ISL teams, including reigning champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Kerala Blasters, have suspended training indefinitely, while Chennaiyin FC and Inter Kashi have temporarily halted operations and delayed player salaries.
Issued on 16 October, the AIFF’s Request for Proposal (RFP) sought to appoint a new commercial partner to manage broadcasting, sponsorship, and digital rights for the ISL. Despite initial interest from four entities, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), FanCode, Conscient Heritage Group, and a Monaco-based consortium, none submitted a final bid before the 7 November deadline.
AIFF to Move Supreme Court
Amid mounting pressure from players, fans, and clubs, the AIFF is now set to approach the Supreme Court to seek modifications to the existing constitutional framework governing the ISL. Justice L. Nageswara Rao, who was appointed by the apex court to oversee the AIFF’s functioning, met senior officials on Sunday to discuss the ongoing crisis.
A Season in Limbo
The ISL, which typically begins in September, has already missed two months of its regular calendar. With no official update yet on a possible restart date, uncertainty continues to loom large.
For the players, fans, and clubs alike, the message remains clear: Indian football needs its league back. As the joint statement concluded, “We’ve found ourselves in a very dark tunnel for long. We could do with a little light.”
Also Read: Kerala Blasters Halt Operations Amid ISL Uncertainty; CEO Urges AIFF to Act Swiftly