Explained: Why hasn’t anyone bid for the Indian Super League?

Investors interested in becoming the commercial partner of the Indian Super League (ISL) shied away due to a lack of representation on the league’s governing council, according to feedback received by KPMG, the company managing the bidding process.

It is learned that there were five companies or conglomerates who showed interest and asked dozens of questions to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to understand the bidding process.

The commercial partner, if and when selected, would be associated with the competition for 15 years.

But none of them – including Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), which ran the league between 2014 and 2025 – ultimately placed a bid, with the window slamming shut at 5pm on November 7.

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Sources indicate that the commercial partner will be offered only one of six places on ISL’s board – a weight of about 17 percent, a weight that did not resonate well with potential investors.

The composition of the council was done in accordance with the new AIFF Constitution approved by the Supreme Court.

In light of this development, the Bid Evaluation Committee of AIFF, headed by Justice L. Nageswara Rao, met on Sunday and the final report would be submitted to the apex court as the next step.

Published on November 10, 2025