AIFF invites remaining ISL clubs to crucial meeting over uncertainty regarding MRA

With ISL in limbo, the stakeholders are looking for a durable solution to get the season running.

Indian football is going through a testing time as its future stands in the dark shadows of uncertainty. With Indian Super League (ISL) clubs terminating contracts of their players and staff, fans are twiddling their thumbs as they wait for a solution.

In the series of developments related to the discussions between various stakeholders, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has now invited the CEOs of Mohun Bagan, Mumbai City FC, Chennaiyin FC, East Bengal, and Mohammedan SC to the AIFF-ISL Clubs CEOs meeting in New Delhi on Thursday.

AIFF earlier invited the CEOs and key individuals of Hyderabad FC, Kerala Blasters FC, NorthEast United FC, Jamshedpur FC, Bengaluru FC, Odisha FC, Punjab FC, and FC Goa.

“Chennaiyin FC and Mumbai City FC have shown interest in being a part of the meeting, other than the eight initial clubs. Now AIFF have invited the CEOs of the remaining clubs, Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan SC as well,” a source close to the development told Khel Now.

With just 8 clubs being invited to the table earlier, fans were wondering why other clubs had been overlooked. AIFF has now cleared the air by calling the remaining clubs to the meeting that will be held this week in the national capital.

Also Read: Exclusive: Bengaluru FC withhold salaries amid ISL uncertainty

Why this meeting?

This deadlock mainly came into being because the Supreme Court prohibited the AIFF from finalising its new constitution.

This also dissuaded the commercial partners of AIFF, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), from making any further progress in their negotiations over renewing the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) with AIFF. It is important to note that the existing MRA is set to expire on December 8 this year.

With eight ISL clubs coming together to urge AIFF to clear the air over their negotiations with FSDL earlier, the apex administrative body decided to call them for a meeting, which will now be joined by the remaining ISL clubs as well. Fans will be hoping this meeting throws a ray of hope to pierce the dark horizon of uncertainty and chaos.

Uncertainty over the future of players

The uncertainty has made its way out of the court, impacting the careers of players and staff of multiple ISL clubs. Odisha FC sent shockwaves when they announced the temporary closure of their operations and terminated the contracts of all the players and staff members.

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A post shared by Bengaluru Football Club (@bengalurufc)

The fans were trying to come to terms with this drastic step as they had to deal with another big blow when former ISL champions Bengaluru FC announced something similar.

Taking to their social media handles, the club announced their decision to suspend the salaries of players and staff belonging to the first team.

However, the club assured that they will not be making any decision that will adversely impact their youth system. These announcements have taken the Indian Football landscape by surprise, making the lives of each and every one associated with it difficult.

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