Sports Minister meets Indian Football Clubs, AIFF, FSDL; Resolution on the ISL standoff is expected soon

India’s Youth and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday met all stakeholders of Indian football and listened to suggestions to resolve the impasse in domestic men’s football at the earliest.

«The meeting was quite fruitful. The ministry has noted all the suggestions and assured us that they will be looked into on priority,» said an official who attended the meeting. Sports stars.

«It was as a culmination of the points discussed in the previous meeting (with AIFF on November 18). We expect a solution from the ministry within a few days.»

The Indian men’s football season has come to a standstill this season, with no confirmation from the Indian Super League (ISL), I-League and I-League 2 – the top three divisions of the pyramid.

The existing Master’s Rights Agreement between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) expires this month, and a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a future commercial partner has not found any bidders so far.

READ ALSO | AIFF Super Cup: FC Goa gears up for semi-final showdown with Mumbai City FC, East Bengal wary of Punjab FC

On Wednesday, Mandaviya questioned AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey on the dire state of commercial rights, with Chaubey suggesting a reduction in the annual minimum guarantee of Rs. 37.5 crore to start the league soon.

The meeting also included the presentation of two alternative commercial models of the competition, in addition to the existing structure presented by the AIFF in its RFP, which mandates the above-mentioned minimum payment by the partner.

One of the models proposed a fully club-owned league, with the AIFF having a special stake, following the Premier League model. However, there was opposition from some old clubs at the meeting.

Secondly, FSDL’s previous model, which was sent to AIFF in March 2025, was also discussed: a model that involved restructuring of ownership – which also gave ISL clubs the upper hand – and a ten-year moratorium on ISL promotion/relegation to lower tiers.

The I-League clubs maintained that a single commercial partner for all three leagues would be a beneficial decision, but broadcasting and promotion/relegation should be handled for the lower leagues and not just the ISL.

The ISL season usually starts in September – as it did until last season – while the I-League, the second division, would start on October 19 this year according to the Federation’s calendar.

A proposed resolution from the ministry is expected within the next week, as further delays could see the country miss out on national football (men’s) for the first time since 1996.

Published on December 3, 2025