ISL clubs submit consortium proposal to the AIFF and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

The MRA deadlock may be about to end with the ISL clubs’ proposal.

A majority of Indian Super League (ISL) clubs have formally submitted a consortium proposal to the All India Football Federation and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports seeking perpetual rights to operate India’s top-tier professional football league. The joint communication about the proposal outlines a shift toward a club-owned league structure, with regulatory oversight retained by the AIFF.

The ISL clubs look to ensure continuity of elite football, strengthen governance and improve the league’s long-term financial sustainability. The joint letter from the clubs comes following Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan’s response back to the Indian Super League (ISL) clubs, wherein practical and possible solutions were asked to be explored.

“On behalf of the majority of the Indian Super League (ISL) Clubs, and pursuant to extensive internal consultations among the participating clubs, we write to formally place before the All India Football Federation (“AIFF”) and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (“Ministry”), a detailed proposal for restructuring the ownership, governance, and operational framework of India’s top-tier professional football league.

This proposal is guided by the shared objective of safeguarding continuity of elite football in India, strengthening institutional governance, ensuring long-term financial sustainability of the league, aligning with globally accepted best practices, and enabling AIFF to focus more effectively on its core mandate of regulation, governance, grassroots development, and national team excellence” the letter read.

ISL clubs want AIFF to give reins to a dedicated league company

Under the proposal, the ISL clubs have asked the AIFF to grant perpetual operational and commercial rights to a dedicated league company, subject to compliance with AIFF, Asian Football Confederation and FIFA regulations.

“The Clubs respectfully propose that AIFF grant the rights to operate, manage, and commercially exploit India’s top-tier professional football league to a dedicated league company (“League Company”) in perpetuity, subject to continued compliance with AIFF, AFC, and FIFA statutes and regulations.”

The participating clubs would collectively hold a permanent majority stake in the league company, while the AIFF would retain a special share to safeguard sporting integrity and statutory compliance.

The structure would also provide for an AIFF-nominated director on the league company’s board, ensuring ongoing coordination and transparency. While the ISL clubs would be free to induct a commercial or strategic partner, they emphasized that majority ownership and voting control would remain with the clubs at all times.

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Clubs are open to carrying any operational risk

The AIFF’s role, as proposed, would be limited to its core regulatory responsibilities, including competition rules, club licensing, disciplinary frameworks, refereeing and the finalization of the league calendar. The federation would not carry any commercial or operational risk related to the league.

“AIFF’s role under the proposed framework shall be confined to its essential regulatory and governance functions, including: Framing and enforcing competition regulations, disciplinary codes, club licensing requirements, and integrity frameworks;

Appointment, training, management, and deployment of referees and match officials; Preparation and finalisation of the league calendar, ensuring alignment with national team commitments and international calendars; and Board representation to protect sporting merit and competitive integrity.

hrough the League Company, the clubs will independently take charge of running and administering the league, while also controlling the commercial exploitation of all key rights such as media, sponsorship, licensing, and digital assets.

Furthermore, they will be responsible for appointing and overseeing commercial or strategic partners and putting in place a governance framework that balances and safeguards the interests of every stakeholder, including the AIFF.

Alongside this, the clubs will commit to maintaining strong financial governance marked by transparency, accountability, and long-term viability, while ensuring that on-field competition and broadcast delivery consistently meet the standards expected of India’s top-tier football league.

Above all, keeping the wider interests of Indian football at the forefront, the clubs have reiterated their willingness to shoulder complete operational and financial ownership of the league.

“The Clubs, acting through the League Company, shall be solely responsible for: Day-to-day operations and management of the league; Exploitation and monetisation of all commercial rights, including media, sponsorship, licensing, and digital rights;

Appointment and management of any commercial or strategic partner; Form a Governing Structure for the League which safeguards interests of all stakeholders involved, including the AIFF; Financial discipline, transparency, and sustainability; and Maintaining sporting and broadcast standards befitting India’s premier football competition.

Financially, the ISL clubs have proposed a waiver of league rights fees for the 2025–26 season, citing transitional challenges and the need to avoid disruption. From the 2026–27 ISL season onward, the clubs indicated they may collectively provide an annual grant of Rs. 10 crore to the AIFF to support grassroots programs, technical development and administrative costs.

In consideration of the grant of perpetual league rights: For the 2025–26 season, the Clubs respectfully propose that the league rights fee payable to AIFF shall be Nil, in recognition of the extraordinary transitional circumstances and the need to ensure uninterrupted continuity of the football season.From the 2026–27 season onwards, the Clubs collectively may consider to paying AIFF an annual grant of INR 10 Crore (Rupees Ten Crores only), irrespective of whether a commercial partner is inducted, to be utilised for:Grassroots and youth development; Referee, coach, and technical development; and Administrative and governance expenses of AIFF.

Agreement of the proposal could end the deadlock

The clubs also committed to reimbursing all referee and match official expenses associated with the league. The letter reaffirmed the clubs’ commitment to preventing a break in the domestic football calendar and said they would aim to begin the season within 45 days of any formal handover of rights, subject to approvals.

Acknowledging that constitutional amendments may be required, the clubs requested the AIFF and the ministry to jointly engage stakeholders and place the rationale for reforms before the Supreme Court of India, where related matters are currently under consideration.

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