Indian football is facing a major crisis after talks between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the CEOs of Indian Super League (ISL) clubs ended without success. This failure has brought the entire domestic football season to a halt. The future of the 2025-26 season is now uncertain as the AIFF has failed to secure a new commercial partner after Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) ended their partnership. Consequently, clubs, including current champions Mohun Bagan, have stopped their training activities, causing significant disappointment among players and staff members.
The problem worsened when no one responded to the commercial tenders issued for running the league. Leading players such as Sunil Chhetri and Sandesh Jhingan have appealed for an immediate resolution to the crisis, pointing out that the livelihoods of many people in Indian football are in jeopardy.
To help find a solution, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has decided to hold talks with representatives from Indian Super League and I-League clubs who were not part of the earlier discussions. The I-League clubs are demanding a common commercial partner for all leagues, including the ISL, I-League, and I-League 2, to ensure long-term stability and growth for Indian football. They are also pushing for an urgent announcement regarding the start of the I-League season by mid-December 2025. Amid these efforts, the silence of AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey is increasing the challenges ahead.
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