Indian Super League clubs have reportedly submitted a proposal to run the ISL as a consortium with AIFF holding a special share. This comes amid uncertainty over the start of the 2025-26 season.
All Indian Super League (ISL) clubs, except East Bengal, have written to the Ministry of Sports asking to run the league themselves, with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) keeping a special share. The clubs sent a detailed proposal on Friday, just a
day after meeting ministry officials in New Delhi.
According to the letter, seen by Sportstar, the clubs want AIFF to give rights to a “League Company” to operate, manage, and make money from India’s top football league. The club representatives said the league could start the 2025-26 season within 45 days if all conditions are met.
AIFF may get Rs 10 crore from next season?
The clubs also mentioned they do not plan to pay anything to AIFF for the current season. From 2026-27, they may pay Rs. 10 crore to AIFF, even if there is a commercial partner, while AIFF would not face any business or operational risk. The letter also said that some parts of this plan may need changes in the AIFF constitution, which is currently under the Supreme Court’s consideration.
These developments are reported to be discussed at the AIFF’s Annual General Meeting, which is scheduled on December 20 in New Delhi. The decision comes a day after the club representatives met Sports Ministry officials, who asked them to submit a detailed proposal regarding the formation of the consortium.
“Regarding the consortium thing, the clubs have been told to submit to the ministry their proposal so that it can be discussed during the Dec 20 AGM. But there is no guarantee,” a club representative told PTI on Thursday.
The Master Rights Agreement between AIFF and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), which ran the league from 2014 to 2025, expired on December 8. The 2025-26 season has not started yet. AIFF had floated a tender for a new commercial partner in September, but there were no bidders. Many clubs have paused first-team operations, and players have publicly urged the league to begin.
Meanwhile, it was also learned that the Indian Women’s League (IWL), starting December 20, will be held without a sponsor as an agreement could not be reached between the AIFF and Capri Sports, which was the lone bidder to the national federation’s tender to monetise the commercial rights of the first and second divisions of the Indian Women’s League for five years.
(With agency inputs)
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