FIFPRO releases statement urging action to protect players in Indian football

The player representative body has asked the stakeholders in Indian Football to come up with a solution.

As the chaos in Indian Football continues to persist, voices are coming from all quarters requesting the stakeholders to move beyond disputes to bring the deadlock to an end.

In a recent development, FIFPRO Asia/Oceania has issued a statement raising its concerns over the evolving situation in Indian Football.

FIFPRO Asia/Oceania release a statement on the suspension of player salaries amid the ISL deadlock! #IndianFootball #IndianSuperLeague pic.twitter.com/urRWD7MVgl

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) August 19, 2025

A lot of overseas players from the Asia and Oceania regions play in the Indian Super League. Following the delay in the commencement of the league, some Indian Football clubs have terminated player contracts.

This unilateral suspension of contracts has put the livelihood of players at risk, prompting FIFPRO Asia/Oceania to issue the statement.

“FIFPRO Asia/Oceania is deeply concerned by the escalating uncertainty in Indian professional football and calls for a swift resolution. The lack of clarity for players over the 2025/26 Indian Super League (ISL) season, arising from a dispute over the league’s organisation and governance that has led to its indefinite suspension, is having a significant impact on their livelihoods, careers, and wellbeing”, read the statement from FIFPRO Asia/Oceania.

“Unilateral termination of contracts distressing”

The highlight of the statement issued by FIFPRO Asia/Oceania is its unequivocal critical tone regarding the steps taken by the ISL clubs. Three Indian clubs have terminated the contracts of players and staff or put their salaries on hold.

With no Indian Football club season in sight, clubs are not sure about their revenue streams, pushing them to manage their finances by terminating player contracts.

Criticising this decision FIFPRO statement read “players have been subjected to unilateral and unlawful suspensions of their employment contracts until further notice. These actions represent a direct breach of the players’ labour rights and are causing significant distress.”

FIFPRO Asia/Oceania has requested the stakeholders to find a solution to bring back normalcy.

“FIFPRO Asia/Oceania urges the All India Football Federation (AIFF), Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), and club owners to work collaboratively with the FPAI to confirm the ISL season schedule and establish a clear roadmap for the season to commence; and ensure clubs continue to meet all contractual obligations to players,” urged the organisation.

FIFPRO’s letter to FIFA

Earlier, FIFPRO also wrote a letter to FIFA urging the global body to step in. Following the suspension of contracts by Odisha FC, Chennaiyin FC, and salaries being put on hold by Bengaluru FC, FIFPRO asked FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström to intervene.

In the letter to FIFA, FIFPRO said, “A significant number of players have approached FIFPRO and its members to report unilateral suspensions of their employment contracts until further notice by various clubs due to participate in the ISL.

Such unlawful suspensions – in direct breach of the players’ labour rights – combined with the general state of uncertainty surrounding the near future of the ISL, have plunged players into a great state of uncertainty and distress. Their livelihoods and careers are on the line.”

FIFPRO also proposed a meeting with FIFA to discuss possible measures to help end the impasse.

Supreme Court hearing on August 22

The Supreme Court will hear the matter relating to the deadlock in Indian Football on August 22 after amicus curiae Gopal Sankaranarayanan and Samar Bansal placed it before the Bench of Justices P. S. Narasimha and Atul Chandurkar.

It will be a crucial hearing, and the immediate future of Indian Football depends on the observations made by the apex court at the end of this hearing. Earlier, AIFF had assured the clubs that they would approach the court, but later backed out. However, the matter still reached the court, and now all eyes are on the court.

These players, clubs, and commercial stakeholders are all looking to FIFA for leadership. Whether the governing body will respond to FIFPRO’s appeal could determine if Indian Football’s top-tier league survives this season.

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