All Indian Super League clubs in a joint statement on Friday urged the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for clarity on the next ISL season.
The 2025-26 season came to an end on Thursday with East Bengal clinching its maiden ISL crown at the end of a truncated season that saw the 14 clubs play 13 matches each after the start of the season was delayed.
“It is with great concern and disappointment that the clubs of the Indian Super League would like to state that given the continued uncertainty surrounding professional football in India, we are now forced to review the extent of our commitment to the competition beyond the current season,” the joint statement began.
“Our clubs have consistently invested in Indian football, often in difficult and uncertain circumstances, and remain strongly committed to its future. However, the continued lack of structural certainty, commercial clarity and long-term visibility has made it increasingly difficult to justify the financial and operational commitments required to compete sustainably.”
«Indian football has a foundation that is much greater than it is today. It is therefore disappointing that those who built, financed, promoted and maintained the league continue to face uncertainty about the structure within which they are expected to operate.»
«At the heart of the future of Indian football must be a financially sustainable league. The clubs have proposed an alternative model that we believe is credible, constructive and worthy of assessment on its merits, alongside any other proposal for the AIFF.»
“We urge the AIFF to recognize the realities faced by those who fund and operate the competition, and work together towards a framework that is sustainable, inclusive and built with all stakeholders in mind,” it ended.
Published on May 22, 2026
