Ten I-League clubs ask for a promotional assessment in Nieuwe MRA; Inter Kashi, Churchill Brothers missing in letter


Ten I-League clubs wrote on Sunday to the Amicus Curiae of the Aiff Constitution Case, which is awaiting the Supreme Court, which in the following season (s) of the Indian Super League (ISL) applies for promotion and relegation.

«We can mention that we are not a party for the Hon’ble Supreme Court in this constant lawsuit, but remain acutely struck by it,» the clubs wrote to senior lawyer Gopal Sankaranarayanan and lawyer Samar Bansal in a letter, Sports star has seen.

«We ask you to consider our position for the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the same way as you have done at 22.08.2025 on behalf of the ISL clubs.»

Who are the clubs?

Aizawl FC, Namdhari FC, Rajasthan United, Dempo SC, Gokulam Kerala, Real Kashmir, Sreenidi Deccan and Shillong Lajong are last season’s I-League parties, while Diamond Harbori FC and Chanmari FC are promotion by I-League.

The top two-champion Inter Kashi and Runner-Up Churchill Brothers-EN The lower two-sports club Bengaluru and Delhi FC-in the previous season of i-League did not enter the letter.

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«As it looks now, the inability of the AIFF to sign a new Masters Agreement (MRA) with FSDL (Football Sports Development Limited) led to a virtual suspension of all competitions under ISL,» the 10 parties wrote.

What is the problem?

The current MRA between Aiff and FSDL will be in December 2025 and the Supreme Court in order to find the two parties a solution for a future agreement.

The lack of a solution about a future MRA has set the ISL ‘On Hold’ of this seasonal on July 11 and has stimulated the plans of the I-League for the 2025-26 campaign.

“Because of the hanging court case, the undersigned clubs did not receive any involvement from the AIFF.

«This information -asymmetry causes significant difficulties, including but not limited to playing agenda, definitively from the fixture, the confirmation of the location, the broadcaster and production costs, investments in sports technology, club -in -voorer costs, subsidy structures and budget foremost, prize money structure and competition composition.»

Secondly, the clubs warned that the Island became a ‘closed competition’. Earlier in March, FSDL had presented a concept for a new MRA involving a 10-year moratorium about promotion/relegation from ISL to lower levels.

Promotion/relegation policies in the FSDL design

At least a 10-year moratorium on promotion/degradation from ISL to lower levels, and not to complete coordination of lower levels according to the new route map, prior to the parties.

No club to be promoted to ISL, unless it (i) meets strict financial and license criteria and (ii) has been in existence for at least five years under the same property that meets the fitness test.

Although the proposal is initially rejected by the Federation, the 10 parties believe that any comparable deal would endanger their ambitions in the future.

«It must be reminded that the AFC route map, jointly completed with the AIFF in 2019, clearly provided the implementation of a promotion and relegation system between the Indian Super League (ISL) and the I-League,» the clubs wrote.

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“Any deviation from this agreed framework would run the risk of turning the ISL into a closed competition, in contrast to the principles of fair competition.

«The absence of a merit-based path for I-League clubs to achieve promotion in the ISL would not only undermine the competitive spirit of the football pyramid in India, but also I-League clubs demotivate through further investments and professional development,» they added.

How can the problem be solved?

The AIFF and FSDL will have discussions about the new MRA next week, from Monday in Bengaluru. If a deal is agreed, the clubs are looking for a promotion agency model in the future and ‘transparent and timely communication of the AIFF’.

«… We can only insist that the matter is sensitive to time and the livelihood of hundreds of players, thousands of supporting employees, and not to mention Lakhs from football fans, will also be hit by these procedures,» the clubs added.

The next hearing on the case is on August 28.

Published on August 24, 2025



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