New Delhi: The Asian Football Confederation is alarmed at the possibility of not having a top-tier league in India and has initiated talks at appropriate levels to take stock of the situation.
Not only has the continental body corresponded with the All India Football Federation over the matter, it has also established communication with world governing body FIFA too.
FIFA and the AFC spoke three days after world players union FIFPRO expressed concern on August 12 over an “alarming situation” for footballers of Indian Super League clubs after “unlawful” unilateral suspension of contracts.
“The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is closely monitoring the ongoing situation regarding the Indian Super League (ISL). Given that the matter is currently sub-judice, we will not be able to offer any comment,” an AFC spokesperson told News9 Sports over email.
A contractual logjam with its marketing partners (FDL) arising from a Supreme Court directive to stall renewal negotiations has put the All India Football Federation in a spot.
It has sent the top-tier ISL on an indefinite hold as multiple clubs have suspended first-team operations and created a mayhem in the domestic structure with no certainty of any league (I-League, I-League 2) happening in the 2025-26 season.
All eyes are on the Supreme Court as it will hear the matter on Friday, with the AIFF and FSDL eager to get a directive for a way forward on the master right agreement (MRA), which finishes in December, midway of the 2025-26 ISL that usually begins in September and ends in April.
Ramifications
While waiting on Supreme Court’s directions, the AIFF proposed to organise the Super Cup in September in the meantime, but the idea wasn’t warmly received by at least eight of the 13 ISL clubs.
Without a clarity in ISL, they were unwilling to begin operations, the clubs said, as the AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey insisted a league would be held without offering specifics.
Failure to organise a top-tier league could lead to significant repercussions for the AIFF, as the AFC mandates a minimum 24 competitive matches for participation in continental competitions.
Without the league, it would be extremely difficult for the AIFF to fulfill this requirement and could lead to suspension of Indian clubs from AFC tournaments as well as sanctions from FIFA.
Several clubs could close down, leading to huge financial losses and turn many players, coaches and staff jobless. Apart from a loss of credibility, the AIFF could be dragged into legal battles and subsequent multifold complications.
Sans competitive club matches, the 133-ranked Indian men’s national team’s prospects would nosedive further as players would be without game-time, even as they prepare for the CAFA Nations Cup under new head coach Khalid Jamil.