The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear on August 22 a plea concerning the standoff between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) over the future of the Indian Super League (ISL), leaving 11 clubs facing the possibility of closure due to non-renewal of contracts.
A bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and A.S. Chandurkar listed the matter for Friday after senior advocate and amicus curiae Gopal Sankaranarayanan argued that FSDL, during the tenure of its contract, was obligated to conduct the ISL. “If it does not, the AIFF should terminate the contract and float a tender. Otherwise, the players suffer and after repeated non-payment, we can be sanctioned by FIFA,” he submitted.
The crisis emerged after FSDL, the ISL organisers and AIFF’s commercial partner, placed the 2025–26 season “on hold” on July 11 citing uncertainty over renewal of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA). As a result, at least three clubs suspended operations or halted staff salaries.
In a joint letter to AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey last week, 11 ISL clubs warned:
“This progress is now in imminent danger of collapse. With operations suspended and no certainty on league continuity, several clubs face the real possibility of shutting down entirely.”
The letter was signed by Bengaluru FC, Hyderabad FC, Odisha FC, Chennaiyin FC, Jamshedpur FC, FC Goa, Kerala Blasters FC, Punjab FC, NorthEast United FC, Mumbai City FC and Mohammedan Sporting. However, Kolkata heavyweights Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal did not sign.
The clubs further cautioned that without a functioning league, India’s national team would be disadvantaged in upcoming AFC and FIFA tournaments, and Indian clubs risked suspension from continental competitions for failing to meet the minimum match requirements.
The dispute coincides with ongoing deliberations on reforming the AIFF’s governance framework. On April 30, the Supreme Court reserved its verdict on the finalisation of the AIFF draft constitution prepared by former judge Justice L. Nageswara Rao.
The draft proposes sweeping changes, including:
- Maximum tenure of 12 years for office-bearers, with a cooling-off period after two successive terms.
- An upper age limit of 70 years for holding office.
- A 14-member executive committee comprising five eminent players, including two women.
- Provision for removal of office-bearers, including the president, through a no-confidence motion — absent in the current constitution.
The looming uncertainty has raised alarms across the football fraternity. The clubs emphasised their decade-long investment in infrastructure, youth development, and community programmes, calling the deadlock an “existential crisis for Indian football.”
