Indian Super League clubs, excluding East Bengal, have once again written to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) urging immediate intervention to resolve the ongoing commercial and operational uncertainty surrounding the league.
The latest letter comes just days after a high-level meeting with Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in New Delhi on December 3, a meeting that ended without any concrete roadmap or immediate solutions.
With the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between AIFF and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) set to expire on December 8, the clubs have warned that the top tier of Indian football is now on the brink of operational collapse.
“Time Is Now of the Essence” Clubs Warn of Looming Crisis
In the letter addressed to AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, the clubs stressed the severity of the situation, writing:
“The Master Rights Agreement expires on 8 December 2025, leaving the country’s top-tier football league without a commercial framework or operational certainty going forward.”
They added that central revenue, the primary financial support model for clubs, has already stopped due to the stalled commercial structure. According to the clubs, this has triggered sponsors to delay or withdraw commitments, making day-to-day operations difficult.
Clubs Cite Supreme Court Observations, Seek Government Support
The email also refers to the ongoing Supreme Court matter regarding the halted tender process for commercial rights. The clubs pointed out that the Court had already asked the Union Government to assist in resolving the crisis, saying:
“We respectfully request that the AIFF formally approach the Government of India to extend support to the Interim Application filed by the Clubs.”
They further highlighted that the recommendations of the Bid Evaluation Committee led by Justice (Retd.) L. Nageswara Rao and reports from KPMG had identified structural flaws in the tender process, which prevented credible participation.
Call for Constitutional Amendment if Court Takes Time
The clubs reminded AIFF that it has the power to resolve constitutional hurdles internally and should not wait indefinitely for a legal direction:
“We urge that the AIFF consider exercising this power with utmost urgency… so that the sport is not imperilled by procedural delay.”
The clubs have proposed a strict and time-bound retendering process:
“The tender must be conducted within a strict and non-extendable timeline, such that the process is completed well before the end of this month.”
They also suggested that if the tender fails again, the clubs should be allowed to run the league collectively under a consortium model, a structure they say aligns with international football governance.
East Bengal the Only Non-Signatory
While all ISL clubs participated in this united appeal, East Bengal once again chose not to sign. During the earlier meeting with the Sports Ministry, East Bengal had reportedly suggested that the AIFF itself should run the league, a stance different from the majority of the clubs.
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