'We need action and we need it now,' Sandesh Jhingan urges stakeholders to find solution to ISL limbo

The ISL season has not started yet.

With each passing day, the desperation in the Indian football ecosystem is scaling new heights. As the All India Football Federation (AIFF) failed to attract any bids for the commercial rights of the Indian Super League, the resumption of the league seems a far-fetched proposition.

The federation had set a deadline of November 7, 2025, for the potential bidders to submit their bids, but did not receive any. This has led to all those involved in Indian football to fend for their lives, as without a league, the whole ecosystem will choke. The decibel of dissent and frustration is rising with no hope at the end of the tunnel.

Sandesh Jhingan calls for action

The veteran Indian senior men’s football team member, Sandesh Jhingan, took to social media to convey his message and ask for accountability from the decision-makers in Indian Football.

In this video, Sandesh said, “Where we are right now, it isn’t a delay anymore, it’s a standstill for the fans, coaches, staff members, players, and for everyone who lives and breathes Indian Football.”

“We have worked too hard, sacrificed too much to let our season vanish in silence because the entire Indian Football ecosystem, from academies to clubs, are hanging in uncertainty. Dreams are paused, future being questioned, salaries frozen.” This statement from Jhingan comes at a time when there is an uproar among fans who are raising questions about the competence of AIFF.

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A post shared by Sandesh Jhingan (@sandesh21jhingan)

Appealing for action, Sandesh Jhingan expressed, “And I’m not making this video to point fingers at anyone. The whole purpose of this video is to unite so that we can take a quick decision so that Indian Football club season can get started. Because every day we wait, Indian Football bleeds. We need action, and we need it now, because this game belongs to all of us.

Also Read: AIFF Bid Evaluation Committee to submit report to Supreme Court after closure of ISL tender

More voices join in call for action

Sandesh Jhingan is not the first individual to express his frustration over the ongoing chaos in Indian Football. The Odisha FC defender Carlos Delgado, Souvik Chakrabarti, Coach Antonio Lopez Habas, and Noah Sadaoui have also made their voices heard.

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Carlos Delgado replied to a post by AIFF, “We don’t want statements, we want action. We want to play football — you’ve paralyzed an entire ecosystem.”

We don’t want statements, we want action. We want to play football — you’ve paralyzed an entire ecosystem.

— Carlos Delgado (@carlosdelgado90) November 9, 2025

Souvik Chakrabati shared his message through an Instagram post where he stated, “from players and professionals to fans and everyone working on and off the field, every single stakeholder deserves a structure that values their passion and helps the game move forward.”

For the love of Indian football 🇮🇳⚽ pic.twitter.com/1YlqJ2h0dz

— Souvik Chakrabarti (@souvik_23) November 9, 2025

The Kerala Blasters winger Noah Sadaoui has also come in support of the cause. “Football, in the country, is now faced with an existential crisis, which is something that we cannot imagine. The time for requests is far gone, patience has been replaced with anxiety, and livelihoods are on the line,” read the post from Sadaoui.

pic.twitter.com/BMXpszc90A

— Noah Wail Sadaoui (@NoahWail) November 10, 2025

The former ATK and Mohun Bagan coach, Antonio Lopez Habas expressed his solidarity with all the players and professionals involved in Indian Football. Through his post on Instagram, Habas tried to reach to the decision makers in Indian Football, hoping for a solution.

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A post shared by Antonio López (@antoniolopezhabas)

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