ISL clubs are in danger of permanently closed in the middle of a distance with AIFF

Eleven clubs of the Indian Super League (ISL) have warned the All India Football Federation (AIFF) that they are «confronted with the real opportunity to close completely» if the continuous impasse with regard to the future of the best domestic competition is not solved quickly.

In a letter to Aiff President Kalyan Chaubey, the clubs said that the crisis resulting from the non-extension of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between the National Federation and the ISL organizers FSDL has «paralyzed professional football in India».

«In the past 11 years, clubs have built chest efforts through persistent investments and coordinated efforts, training infrastructure, community outreach programs and professional teams that have increased the credibility of both in the interior and internationally,» the clubs in the letter sent on Friday.

«This progress is now in the threatening danger of collapse. The current standstill has created immediate and serious consequences. With suspended operations and no certainty on the continuity of the competition, various clubs are confronted with the real possibility of completely closing.» The crisis popped up after Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), both the ISL organizers and the commercial partner of AIFF, placed the 2025-26 «season» on 11 July due to uncertainty about the renewal of the MRA, which registers at least three clubs and staff or player-to-do teams.

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«The ISL season 2025-26 runs the risk of not taking place at all. This is not just an administrative impasse-it is an existential crisis for Indian football. We write you in the most serious circumstances,» the clubs wrote.

«The trust that is carefully built with fans, sponsors, investors, international football bodies in the past decade will irreparably damage if the competition remains in the dark.»

The letter was signed by Bengaluru FC, Hyderabad FC, Odisha FC, Chennaiyin FC, Jamshedpur FC, FC Goa, Kerala Blasters FC, Punjab FC, Northeast FC, Mumbai City FC and Mohammedan Sporting. Kolkata Heavyweights Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal did not do the sign of the letter.

The letter describes the risk of club closures and the loss of existence of existence, the letter said: “More than 2000 direct means of existence – players, coaches, medical staff, analysts, kit managers, groundals, administrative staff – hang in the balance, in addition to countless indirect livelihoods dependent on the competition.

“Clubs are confronted with a season in which income from tickets, merchandise and other roads are reduced to zero. Potential sponsors have already started to deteriorate, looking at the scenario in which the ISL is located.

«This is a huge financial blow that clubs will not recover this year and it will influence the payment of salaries to players and employees in the near future, in addition to making different stakeholders a complete and permanent closure of their respective clubs.» The clubs said that the impasse will also influence the willingness of India for international competitions and say: «Without a functioning competition, our national team will be seriously disadvantaged in the upcoming AFC and FIFA tournaments».

They also said that without the ISL they will not be able to play a minimum number of competitive matches for participation in continental competitions, which means that the suspension of Indian clubs from AFC tournaments is at risk.

«The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) requires a minimum number of competing matches for participation in continental competitions. Without ISL, this requirement cannot be met, so that India runs the risk of suspension of all AFC and FIFA tournaments,» the clubs said.

«FIFPRO, the world’s union of global players, has already informed FIFA of the situation, which increases the chance of external control and possible sanctions.»

On Thursday, the AIFF had agreed to state the Raging issue with regard to the ISL for the Supreme Court on Monday. The APEX court has reserved its opinion to the case with regard to the draft constitution of the AIFF.

The decision to draw up the SC of the crisis situation was taken after a meeting of the legal representatives of the clubs and the AIFF. A reliable source even said that the AIFF is willing to submit a written request if the Supreme Court asks for it.

«We fully appreciate that related things are for the Hon’ble Supreme Court. However, the report of recent hearings shows that the directness and scale of the crisis were not clearly transferred to the Hon’ble Court,» the clubs said.

“The human costs, the threat of clubs that fold, the risk of losing our place in AFC/FIFA matches, and the reputation damage to India’s football image requires urgent action from our side.

«We therefore ask the AIFF, as a regulator of Indian football, respectful to mention this issue on Monday, August 18, 2025 for the Hon’Ble Supreme Court and to add this letter to present the uniform concerns of all ISL clubs for the Hon’ble Court.»

The clubs said they are ready to support the AIFF in the case through their advice, although they are not a party to the procedure before the SC.

«Immediate collective action is the only way to maintain the future of Indian football, to protect the livelihood and to protect the status of the country in the global football community. We will continue to work with the AIFF to achieve a resolution.»