ISL club owners push back on AIFF tender process, seek formal role in decision-making

Call for the working committee comes a day after AIFF’s Governing Council communication

Less than 24 hours after the All India Football Federation wrote to clubs regarding nominations to the ISL Governing Council, club owners have responded with a letter of their own, and while the tone remains measured, the message is clear.

In a joint communication dated April 17, accessed by Khel Now, ISL club owners have called for a more structured and collaborative approach in decisions surrounding the league’s long-term commercial rights and governance.

The letter, which is signed by all club owners and directors except Inter Kashi, follows recent developments around the 15+5-year commercial rights tender, a process that has already seen differences emerge between the federation and clubs.

Clubs push for more say in long-term decisions

In their letter, the owners underline that the ISL is not just an operational property, but something that directly impacts long-term investment and sustainability.

“We believe that the commercial and governance framework surrounding the league is best approached through a collaborative process that meaningfully reflects the perspectives of those who fund, build, and sustain the competition over time.”

“The ISL represents a central pillar of the Indian football ecosystem… this is not only an operational matter, but one that directly impacts ownership-level investment, strategic direction, and long-term sustainability.”

While maintaining a measured tone, the clubs have clearly flagged concerns with how the recent process was handled. In the letter, they state that they were “not fully satisfied with the manner in which the recent process (ISL tender) was conducted,” underscoring that decisions of this scale, with a direct impact on ownership-level investment, strategic direction, and long-term sustainability, cannot be treated as routine operational matters.

At the same time, the clubs have framed their concerns carefully, noting that this is “not as criticism,” but as a need for better alignment on decisions that carry long-term financial and strategic consequences.

ISL clubs form a working group

In response, the clubs have not just raised concerns but also outlined a structure. They have proposed forming a working committee at the ownership level, mandated to represent the club’s interests and engage directly with the AIFF in a more structured and transparent manner. The inclusion of specific owners and executives in this proposed group suggests this is less a suggestion and more an organised attempt to formalise their role in decision-making.

The intention, as outlined, is to create a platform where ideas can be discussed, common ground identified, and a “balanced, sustainable, and mutually beneficial framework” developed over time.

The following club owners/CEOs will form the working group:

Club Owners: Bhavesh Jindal/Dhruv Sood, Nikhil Nimmagadda, Rohan Sharma

CEOs/Directors: Ravi Puskur, Ekansh Gupta, Darren Caldeira, Vinay Chopra

Also Read: Clubs nominate members to ISL Governing Council ahead of finalising commercial rights structure

AIFF’s letter a day earlier

This development comes just a day after AIFF’s communication to clubs regarding the ISL Governing Council.

In its April 15 letter, the federation invited clubs to nominate representatives to the Governing Council, which is expected to serve as the apex body responsible for approving season plans, budgets, and broader commercial decisions.

The AIFF confirmed that details of eight club representatives have been received for the ISL Governing Council.

The nominated members are:

• Sundara Raman – Jamshedpur FC
• Vinod Dugar – Inter Kashi FC
• Rohan Sharma – Odisha FC
• Sandeep Agarwal – East Bengal FC
• John Abraham – NorthEast United FC
• Md. Amiruddin – Mohammedan Sporting Club
• Gurpreet Singh – Punjab FC
• Nandan Piramal – FC Goa

In addition to the club nominees, the AIFF has named three of its own office-bearers as representatives on the council.

The list includes:

• Kalyan Chaubey – President
• N A Haris – Vice President
• Kipa Ajay – Treasurer

The AIFF also indicated that the commercial rights partner would operate within this structure, with key decisions, including budget approvals and commercial planning, subject to the Governing Council’s oversight.

At the same time, the federation emphasised that the appointment of a commercial partner is expected to strengthen the league’s ecosystem and help reduce financial pressure on both AIFF and participating clubs.

Underlying tension remains

Taken together, the two letters point to the same issue from different angles.

AIFF is moving towards finalising a long-term commercial partner and governance framework. Clubs, meanwhile, are asking for a more defined and formal role in shaping those decisions.

There is no open confrontation in the language used. The clubs repeatedly refer to “constructive engagement” and “shared responsibility.” But the concern is evident, particularly when it comes to decisions that will influence long-term investment, control, and sustainability of the league.

What next?

AIFF is expected to move ahead with key decisions around the commercial rights tender, while also formalising the ISL Governing Council structure.

Whether the proposed working committee is integrated into that framework or remains a parallel mechanism will be closely watched.

Because at this point, it is no longer just about the tender.

It is about who gets a seat at the table when those decisions are made.

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