Eight I-League clubs boycotted the AIFF meet and set a January 5 deadline to start the season

Eight I-League clubs opted not to attend the All India Football Federation (AIFF) meeting on Wednesday over suggestions for the 2025-26 season, with the Federation informing them of the plan at the last minute.

Owners of all eight clubs had traveled to New Delhi to discuss the future of the league – the second division of men’s football – for a joint solution.

But the invitation from AIFF came just three hours before the said meeting, leaving them confused. As a result, the clubs wrote a letter of demands and asked for a meeting at a later date with responses from the federation.

Who are the eight clubs?

Frails, Chemarari, Cancer Harbour, Deaccadi Deccan, Shlang Honlong, Namdhari, Real Kashir and Rajasthan Unith.

What does the letter say?

• Taking into account the fundamental importance of a multi-level national structure for the development of football in the country (level 1-2-3), we propose that in this case all three leagues – ISL, I League and I League-2 – should be managed by one common league partner. This will ensure holistic growth and long-term sustainability of the country’s National League ecosystem.

• We understand that such an important decision requires thorough planning and execution; therefore, for the short and immediate term, we request the immediate announcement of the I-League this season within the next 10 days through interim measures.

• The competition should ideally start on December 15, 2025 and no later than January 5, 2026. Naturally, the competition should also be telecast by the top two sports channels (Star Sports & Jio Hotstar, Sony Sports & Sony Liv). This will ensure that all 330 of the country’s top professional footballers are positively involved in a competitive league system for the all-important continued growth of our country.

– As written in the letter seen by Sportstar, and signed and stamped by all eight clubs

«They (AIFF) said, we will hold the Super Cup in September and the league (I-League) will start from October 15 in a phased manner. So by March and April it will be over. That was the original plan.»

«We formed the team on September 1, but further uncertainties pushed that date (of start of I-League) to December. Hence, we have requested all clubs to join on October 1,» Gokulam Kerala president VC Praveen said. Sports stars.

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«All clubs started paying salaries from October 1. We have allocated the foreigners. Now they say this could happen in mid-January. So both AFF should say there is a problem and commit force majeure so that we all stop paying salaries or start the competition at the earliest.»

If no solution is found, the clubs plan to approach the Union government for the next step.

“We are now trying to reach the Sports Minister, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister because we have all invested years in football in FIFA, the first, second and third levels are equally important,” Praveen added.

Published on November 12, 2025