ISL clubs urge AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey to act swiftly as MRA expiration nears

ISL clubs warn the Federation of imminent commercial and financial collapse.

Indian Football’s turmoil has intensified as twelve Indian Super League (ISL) clubs have written to AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, urging immediate intervention to prevent the league from slipping into what they call “commercial impossibility”.

Only East Bengal authorities exempted themselves from this letter.

“The reason East Bengal wasn’t part of this letter sent to the AIFF President is that they don’t want the league owned by the clubs; they want the AIFF to own & run it,” a source close to the development told Khel Now.

Their letter follows a high-profile meeting chaired by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, where stakeholders failed to reach an immediate solution despite extensive discussions on the ongoing crisis.

ISL clubs, except East Bengal, to AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey – @KhelNow #IndianFootball "With the expiry of the MRA and the consequent absence of a commercial rights holder, central revenue has ceased entirely. The uncertainty has also caused local sponsors to withdraw or…

— Ashish Negi (@7negiashish) December 5, 2025

The appeal comes just days before the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) expires on December 8, a deadline that has left the top tier of Indian Football without clarity or commercial security. Clubs argue that the federation and government must act before irreversible damage occurs. Clubs have also asked AIFF to ask the Sports Ministry to show urgency in addressing the matter.

“We write to respectfully highlight the urgency of the present situation. As you are aware, the Master Rights Agreement (“MRA”) expires on 8 December 2025, leaving the country’s top-tier football league without a commercial framework or operational certainty going forward,” the letter read.

ISL Clubs highlight financial freefall and seek relief

In their strongly worded letter, the ISL clubs reiterated that the loss of central revenue has left teams exposed.

“For nearly eleven years, the ISL Clubs have continued to invest substantially in football in India—despite persistent losses—on the strength of a predictable league structure and, most critically, central revenue,” they wrote.

They added that the sudden vacuum created by the MRA ending has destabilised financial planning across the league.

“The uncertainty has also caused local sponsors to withdraw or pause commercial commitments, leaving Clubs with no viable income whatsoever, despite ongoing obligations..”

The letter also acknowledged that clubs have still honoured payments, stating, “While the majority of the Clubs have continued to honour salaries and contractual dues to players and staff in good faith, the current position is not merely challenging—it is approaching commercial impossibility.”

The ISL clubs have already filed an interim application before the Supreme Court requesting the removal of constitutional hurdles that derailed the tender. They argue that Articles 1.21, 1.54, and 63 of the AIFF Constitution have created technical roadblocks that bidders cannot navigate.

Moreover, the clubs reminded the AIFF that even Justice (Retd.) L. Nageswara Rao’s committee and consultancy KPMG found the same issues during the earlier RFP process.

To address structural flaws, the clubs reminded the AIFF that their concerns mirror those raised earlier. They noted, “The contentions of the Clubs are largely aligned with the conclusions and observations placed before the Hon’ble Supreme Court by Justice (Retd.) L. Nageswara Rao and KPMG.”

Also Read: Stakeholders & Sports Minister meet; no immediate solution proposed for Indian Football crisis

Government’s role becomes central after stakeholder meeting

During Wednesday’s meeting, the government signalled support but did not present a concrete fix. As reported earlier, FSDL and broadcasters warned the Minister that the proposed ecosystem offers no return on investment. Meanwhile, I-League clubs raised separate concerns around promotion-relegation and commercial clarity.

The ISL clubs now want the AIFF to formally approach the Centre to support their Supreme Court application. They also reminded the federation that it can amend its constitution without judicial orders if the process delays.

“Crucially, at the last hearing, the Hon’ble Supreme Court itself requested the intervention and assistance of the Union of India to help resolve the constitutional and commercial challenges facing the ecosystem,”

“It is precisely pursuant to this judicial request that the Clubs now seek Government support. In line with that direction, we respectfully request that the AIFF formally approach the Government of India to extend support to the Interim Application, so that these issues can be resolved in coordination with all stakeholders,”

Clubs push for urgent re-tender and long-term commercial stability

In another strong appeal, the clubs stressed that a quick tender will only succeed if constitutional obstacles are removed first and if the timeline is strictly non-extendable.

The letter adds that the future tender must allow bidders to propose their technical and commercial frameworks freely. If no viable bidder emerges, the clubs proposed forming a majority-owned consortium to run the league a model inspired by top global football competitions.

“Furthermore, should the revised tender not result in a suitable commercial partner, we respectfully request that the AIFF consider a framework under which the ISL Clubs may collectively form a consortium to own/operate the league (as majority owners), alongside the Federation and aligned commercial/broadcast/private investors. Such an approach is consistent with global best practices and reflective of the long-term commitment of the Clubs to Indian football” it added.

 “We remain fully committed to the development of the sport and stand ready to assist the Federation in taking the necessary steps to protect and strengthen the league and the football ecosystem in the country,” the letter concluded.

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