The Centre on Friday assured the Supreme Court that it would step in to ensure the Indian Super League (ISL) takes place this season, after the All India Football Federation (AIFF) reported that it had received no bids for the league’s commercial rights.
A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi was hearing a report submitted by the Justice L Nageswara Rao (retd.)-led committee, which was appointed by the court to oversee reforms in the AIFF. The committee informed the court that the tender issued for monetising the ISL had drawn no bidders, leaving the federation in a difficult position.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench he had spoken to the minister concerned, who was “fully aware of the issue” and conveyed that the ISL “must be held.”
“How it is to be held, what sponsors, who will finance, etc. can be left to the government. The government would intervene to ensure that the ISL is held and our players are not put to any disadvantage,” Mehta said.
The bench, however, cautioned against creating an impression that the government was interfering in the functioning of the sport’s governing body. Mehta responded that the intervention would remain limited and aligned with international requirements.
“The minister has said the government will do everything, bearing in mind that anything done must conform to FIFA regulations so that we don’t fall foul of them,” he said, adding that the “ultimate beneficiary is the players,” who should not suffer due to a lack of sponsors or ownership instability among clubs.
The bench noted that the recommendations made by Justice Rao’s committee could serve as “very good guiding principles,” and asked stakeholders to consider them. The matter will be taken up again after two weeks.
The developments come amid ongoing reforms within the AIFF. The federation has convened a Special General Body Meeting on November 24 to vote on amendments to Article 25.3(c) and (d) of its constitution, which bar office bearers from simultaneously holding posts in both the national body and state associations.
On October 15, the Supreme Court directed the AIFF to adopt these provisions within three weeks, though it allowed the current executive committee to continue until its term ends in September next year.
Earlier, on September 19, the court approved the draft constitution of the AIFF with certain modifications and asked the federation to adopt it within four weeks.
As the federation grapples with financial uncertainty around its flagship league and simultaneous structural reforms, the court signalled that the next steps must balance autonomy, transparency, and the interests of players and stakeholders.
