New Delhi: Indian Super League clubs have pointed out four immediate and severe consequences that have surfaced due to the ongoing impasse while formally requesting the All Indian Football Federation to immediately approach the Supreme Court.
At a virtual legal counsel meeting on Friday it was agreed that the AIFF would would orally mention the matter to the Court on Monday (August 18), raising the hardships faced by stakeholders of the ecosystem.
Following up on that the clubs have written to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, highlighting how the continuing deadlock over renewal of master rights agreement (MRA) between the federation and its marketing partners (FSDL) have not only “paralysed” but turned into an “existential crisis” for Indian football.
The clubs said that the progress they have made over the past 11 years to build youth development systems and training infrastructure is now in “imminent danger of collapse”.
Multiple clubs have suspended operations and terminated contracts of players and staff unilaterally, whoch FIFPRO had deemed “unlawful” while urging FIFA to look into it.
The situation is so grave that the clubs said there is a risk of club closures and livelihood loss, impact on national team readiness, regulatory and international sanctions risk and erosion of stakeholder confidence.
‘Huge blow’
“More than two thousand direct livelihoods — players, coaches, medical staff, analysts, kit managers, groundsmen, administrative staff— hang in the balance, alongside countless indirect livelihoods dependent on the league,” they said.
“This is a huge financial blow that clubs will not recover from this year and it will affect payout of salaries to players and staff in the immediate future, besides making several stakeholders contemplate a complete and permanent shut-down of their respective clubs.”
At a meeting on August 7, the AIFF had proposed to stage the Super Cup in September during the time the Supreme Court delivers a verdict on the matter, but the clubs remained unconvinced about it without clarity on the status of the start date of the ISL, which usually takes place in a September-April window.
The AIFF held a physical meeting with ISL clubs on August 7. Photo: @IndianFootball
“Footballers depend almost entirely on regular club training and matches to maintain match fitness and tactical sharpness. Without a functioning league, our national team will be severely disadvantaged in upcoming AFC and FIFA tournaments,” it was pointed out.
The AIFF was reminded that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) mandates a minimum number of competitive matches (24) for participation in continental competitions
“Without the ISL, this requirement cannot be met, putting India at risk of suspension from all AFC and FIFA tournaments. FIFPRO, the global players’ union, has already apprised FIFA of the situation, increasing the likelihood of external scrutiny and possible sanctions,” the clubs said.
‘Urgency missing’
It was also noted if the league remains in limbo, the trust built by clubs with its various stakeholders will evaporate, which demanded a mpre practive stance from the AIFF.
“However, from the record of recent hearings, it appears that the immediacy and scale of the crisis have not been clearly conveyed to the Hon’ble Court,” the clubs mentioned.
“We therefore respectfully request the AIFF, as the regulator of Indian football, to urgently mention this matter before the Hon’ble Supreme Court on Monday, 18 August 2025, and to append this letter to present the unified concerns of all Indian Super League clubs before the Hon’ble Court.
“The clubs are ready to support the AIFF in this endeavour through our counsel despite us not being parties to the proceedings in court.”