Indian football’s governing body is no longer able to fulfill its responsibilities: players are advocating for FIFA and FIFPro

A large number of footballers have spoken out in a video titled ‘Save Indian Football’, highlighting the deplorable state of the sport in the country at the moment.

With 2026 set to start, there is still no concrete news on whether there will be an Indian Super League (ISL) season before the current season. The ISL, which should ideally have started last September, is yet to kick off due to the lack of a commercial partner for the league.

«It’s January and we should be appearing on your screens as part of a competitive football match in the Indian Super League. Instead, we are here driven by fear and desperation to say out loud something we all know. But more importantly, we are here to make a case. The Indian football government can no longer fulfill its responsibilities.»

«We are now staring at permanent paralysis. This is a last-ditch effort to save what we can. That is why we call on FIFA to intervene and do what is necessary to save Indian football. We hope this message reaches the powers that be in Zurich.

“This call is not political. It is not driven by confrontation, but by necessity. It may sound like a big word, but the truth is that we are facing a humanitarian, economic and sporting crisis. Of course, we need to be saved at the earliest.

«Players, staff, owners and fans deserve clarity, protection and, most importantly, a future. We just want to play football, please help us do that,» said the video, which features Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Sandesh Jhingan, Pritam Kotal, Rahul Bheke, Suresh Singh Wangjam and Amrinder Singh among the Indian footballers, while Carlos Delgado, Hugo Boumous and Michel Zabaco are the foreign players who have spoken out.

In response to a letter sent to clubs by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Wednesday, asking them to confirm their ISL participation in the league’s shortened 2025-2026 season by Thursday, January 1, thirteen ISL clubs have sought clarifications and assurances from Indian football’s governing body before confirming their participation.

In response, the clubs, with the exception of Jamshedpur FC, said they may be willing to participate in the competition, subject to confirmations “in a manner consistent with the principles of transparency, financial prudence, proportionality and long-term sustainability envisaged in the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 (“NSGA”) and also as reflected in discussions with the AIFF Coordination Committee and the clubs.

The clubs have sought clarity on ‘1) Financial responsibility in the absence of a commercial partner, 2) No participation fees for the 2025-2026 season, 3) Cost allocation for the mid-season, 4) Time-bound and responsible long-term roadmap, 5) Government support to minimize costs and only then will confirm their participation for the 2025-2026 season.’

The letter elaborated on the above points and stated that the AIFF should take the financial responsibility of organizing the competition in the absence of a commercial partner.

The clubs said they are open to a meeting on January 3 to discuss the matter further.

Published on January 2, 2026