Football: “We want to play, and now” - Indian footballers lead plea urging resolution over ISL’s future

by Devesh Jaganath

image Football: “We want to play, and now” - Indian footballers lead plea urging resolution over ISL’s future
Several Indian footballers, including the likes of Sunil Chhetri, Rahul Bheke and Lallianzuala Chhangte, have issued a desperate plea to authorities to resolve the Indian Super League crisis. The Indian top flight was postponed indefinitely after failing to secure a commercial partner for the 2025-26 season.

Why has the Indian Super League been postponed

It has been known for several months now that the future of the Indian Super League is uncertain, and hopes of a resolution to the crisis have now taken a major blow following the most recent developments relating to the matter. 

It was revealed during the offseason that the All India Football Federation’s agreement with its chief commercial partner, FSDL, would end in 2025, which would mean that the Indian football governing body would need to seek a new sponsor for the 2025-26 season. 

The Supreme Court instructed the AIFF to launch a fresh, transparent tendering process to find a suitable partner for the ISL, but during the bidding process, investors were deterred, with reports suggesting that this was due to the limited representation potential investors would receive in the governing council.

It is understood that the new commercial partner would need to commit to a 15-year association, but would only receive one of six seats on the council (17%). Five companies initially signalled their interest but walked away before the deadline.

While the AIFF’s Bid Evaluation Committee has now been tasked with reworking the ISL’s governing framework to make it more appealing to investors, no timeline has been provided to date, leaving the league in limbo for the foreseeable future. 

 

ISL and I-League clubs forced to shut down first-team operations 

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Given the current uncertainty surrounding the Indian Super League, clubs have been forced to take drastic measures to remain afloat, with the likes of Kerala Blasters, Mohun Bagan, Odisha FC and Chennaiyin FC all suspending first-team operations until further notice. 

Several clubs have also had to delay salary payments to players and staff, and the financial hardships being faced by the affected personnel have now reached its peak, with multiple high-profile players urging authorities to resolve the crisis immediately. 

“To put it simply, we want to play, and now. This is a plea to all those involved in running our sport in the country, to do whatever it takes to get the football season underway. Our anger, frustration and distress has now been replaced by desperation. Desperation to play the game we love, in front of people who mean everything to us-our families, our fans.”

This was a joint statement provided by ISL stars Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Rahul Bheke and Lallianzuala Chhangte earlier this week, while Adrian Luna, captain of Kerala Blasters, has also put out a message since. 

Unfortunately, for now, India’s footballers and fans are forced to wait in what many affected individuals have described as “a very dark tunnel,” hoping for “a little bit of light.”