Twelve ISL clubs write to AIFF, claiming the federation will earn a surplus of Rs 3.4 crore despite assurances to the Sports Ministry

Twelve clubs from the Indian Super League (ISL) on Friday wrote a letter to the All India Football Federation (AIFF), claiming that the federation would earn a surplus of over Rs 3.4 crore for the current season despite the Sports Ministry’s assurance that it would not earn a «rupee» from the league this year.

In a strongly worded five-page letter to the AIFF deputy secretary general, the clubs wrote that the federation will retain 40 percent of central revenue even as participating teams bear the “full” operational risks and most of the economic risk of the competition.

«The attached financial model records: AIFF contributions: 0; AIFF share on Ops: 0; Full operational financing borne by clubs,» the letter said, referring to the revised financial model circulated for the 2025-2026 season.

The letter, signed by 12 of the 14 participating ISL clubs, states that the league is expected to generate Rs 8.62 crore from streaming partner FanCode, of which AIFF would retain 40 percent, amounting to “approximately Rs 3,448 crore”.

“Despite this extraordinary context, the federation is set to earn a surplus of over Rs 3.4 crore – even after publicly declaring to the Sports Minister that it will not earn a rupee from the competition this year,” the letter said.

“It is unacceptable that in an interim season that looks like force majeure, which is not due to any fault on the part of the clubs, the federation is making profits while the clubs are taking on unprecedented financial pressure,” it added a2dj.

«If AIFF considers the ISL as a purely AIFF competition, then AIFF must bear the corresponding financial burden. If AIFF considers it as a partnership, then there must be partnership in terms of both economics and decision-making,» the clubs wrote.

The clubs also stated that they would transfer the first installment of Rs 30 lakh directed by the federation “within the stipulated period in the interest of ensuring the continuity of Indian football, fully aware of the difficult financial situation of AIFF”.

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They clarified that the payment would be made “strictly without prejudice” to their rights and should not be construed as acceptance of unilateral governance by the federation.

The signatories included the three Kolkata clubs – Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal FC and Mohammedan Sporting Club – along with Kerala Blasters FC, Bengaluru FC, Mumbai City FC, FC Goa, Odisha FC, Punjab FC, Chennaiyin FC, Mohammedan SC and Inter Kashi. The clubs also objected to what they called unilateral decision-making by the federation.

They further alleged that the publication of a long-term Request for Qualification (RFQ) document to determine the future commercial structure of the competition was carried out without prior consultation with the clubs.

“No club was given prior notice of its publication, circulated a draft for review or formally provided a copy of the final RFP,” the letter said, adding that clubs were informed of the development through the AIFF website.

The clubs argued that decisions about the competition’s long-term commercial framework, including revenue distribution, governance architecture and allocation of commercial rights, cannot be made without involving the teams that fund the competition.

They also expressed concern about the prospect of relegation in what they described as a highly irregular season.

According to the clubs, the shortened competition has been affected by uneven home and away distribution, operational uncertainty, financial asymmetry and player turnover, making it unsuitable to impose relegation.

The clubs also objected to the enforcement provisions of the AIFF notice, which include daily fines of Rs 1 lakh and the possibility of disqualification, describing the language as “coercive and contrary to a partnership model”.

Published on March 6, 2026