FSDL proposes new ISL ownership model, seeks 10-year relegation freeze in fresh deal with AIFF

ISL can undergo some major alterations ahead of the 2025-26 season.

A major change could be on the cards for Indian football as Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the marketing partner of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), has submitted a fresh proposal to revamp the Indian Super League (ISL) structure.

According to a reports, FSDL has called for the creation of a new holding company to run the league and a moratorium on relegation for the next ten years.

FSDL, a joint venture between Reliance and Star, has been managing the ISL since its inception in 2014 under a 15-year Master Rights Agreement (MRA) signed with AIFF in 2010. This agreement, set to expire in December this year, includes a fixed minimum annual guarantee of ₹50 crore to the federation.

With the renewal talks underway, both parties are now exploring a new ownership and revenue model to define the future of Indian club football.

Proposed New Ownership Model: Clubs to Get Majority Stake

Under the new proposal, FSDL wants to form a holding company that will govern, operate, and commercialise the ISL. The ownership would be split among ISL clubs (60%, shared equally), FSDL (26%), and the AIFF (14%). This structure marks a significant departure from the current MRA, where FSDL controls all commercial rights to AIFF competitions.

In this model, the AIFF would retain full commercial control over non-ISL and non-national team events. FSDL would only manage ISL and national team competitions through the joint venture. The shift is aimed at increasing club involvement and reducing the centralisation of power under one commercial partner.

No Relegation Until 2035? FSDL’s Key Clause Sparks Debate

One of the most debated elements in the proposal is the call for a ten-year freeze on relegation from the ISL. The only pathway into the top division would be for clubs that pass strict financial and licensing standards and have operated under the same ownership for at least five years.

However, the proposal directly conflicts with the roadmap approved in 2019 in the presence of senior AFC officials. As per that agreement, promotion and relegation were to be fully implemented by the 2024–25 season. Clubs like Punjab FC and Mohammedan Sporting had already joined the ISL through sporting merit in recent years after winning the I-League.

A senior AIFF official told TOI, “It will be difficult now to go back to the AFC and seek special approval for more years without relegation or conditional promotion.”

Clubs and Officials Voice Concerns

Not everyone within Indian football circles is on board with the idea. East Bengal official Debabrata Sarkar strongly opposed the exclusion of relegation, stating, “This is what makes the competition fair, challenging and unpredictable. The ISL should have adopted this system from day one.”

Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia, now part of the AIFF Executive Committee, has also urged caution. He advised the federation to hold off on signing any agreement until the Supreme Court clears the new AIFF constitution. The draft version of this constitution clearly states that the “seniormost league should be owned, operated and directly managed by AIFF.”

Uncertainty looms over ISL

The Indian Super League (ISL) was initially set to begin on September 14, as per the calendar recently approved by the AIFF League Committee. However, doubts have started to surface regarding the league’s start date, with multiple club officials being informed by FSDL that the season will not commence until there is complete clarity on the new commercial agreement.

FSDL has informed the AIFF that it no longer wishes to continue with the current Master Rights Agreement, which grants them commercial control over all AIFF competitions in exchange for a fixed minimum annual fee. Instead, they’ve put forward a revised proposal that involves forming a joint venture to manage only the ISL and national team properties. Under this plan, the AIFF would fully retain commercial rights and revenue from all other competitions outside of the ISL and national team matches.

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