No bidders for ISL tender as Indian Football faces major setback

AIFF’s hopes dashed as ISL tender process ends with no takers.

The Indian Super League (ISL) tender has officially ended with no bidders, marking a significant setback for the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the future of Indian football’s commercial valuation.

Despite a lengthy and highly publicised bidding process, which saw four potential bidders engage in discussions, not a single final proposal was received before the November 7, 2025, deadline.

The Request for Proposal (RFP), issued on October 16, 2025, aimed to identify a new commercial partner to manage all ISL-related rights, including broadcasting, sponsorship, digital, and merchandising. However, even after multiple revisions, clarifications, and deadline extensions, the tender failed to inspire confidence among prospective investors.

Breaking: As expected and exactly as predicted in my explainer video, AIFF received no bids for the ISL tender.#IndianFootball officially back to the Stone Age now. @KhelNow Video link ICYMI- https://t.co/PcMCaIX8ue https://t.co/CbyymC3r69

— Ashish Negi (@7negiashish) November 7, 2025

Four bidders engaged; none submitted final proposal

AIFF, assisted by global consultancy KPMG, conducted an online pre-bid conference on October 25, 2025, under the supervision of Justice L. Nageswara Rao, appointed by the Supreme Court to ensure transparency in the process. Four organisations, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), FanCode (owned by Dream Sports), Conscient Heritage Group (owners of Conscient Football Academy), and a foreign consortium, participated in the discussions.

However, despite showing early interest, none of these entities eventually submitted a formal bid. One participant was reportedly disqualified due to a conflict of interest, while others raised concerns about the tender’s financial model and lack of structural clarity.

By the way, the problem isn’t the ₹37.5 crore yearly fee to AIFF in ISL tender, several parties were initially interested after seeing that figure. But once they dug into the details, they realised they’d face minimum losses of ₹200–300 crore annually, making it financially…

— Ashish Negi (@7negiashish) November 7, 2025

FSDL, which previously held the ISL’s commercial rights under the Master Rights Agreement (MRA), submitted over 100 queries seeking clarity on various terms of the RFP. The AIFF responded to 234 total queries from all interested parties and even released Corrigendum 4, revising bid terms, timelines, and evaluation structures. Yet, these efforts did not translate into confirmed submissions.

Also Read: AIFF modifies RFP terms, revises bid deadlines and evaluation structure

Financial terms deterred bidders?

A major sticking point was the financial requirement. The new deal demanded a minimum guaranteed payment of ₹37.5 crore per year or 5% of gross revenue, whichever was higher. While designed to secure AIFF’s financial interests, experts believe the figures were unrealistic given the current market conditions.

Unlike the earlier FSDL agreement, which guaranteed around ₹50 crore annually and provided crucial support for AIFF’s operations, the new terms offered limited flexibility for bidders. Additionally, the uncertain roadmap for league expansion, club revenues, and broadcast distribution raised doubts about the long-term viability of the contract.

Growing Concerns for Indian Football’s Future

The absence of bids could not have come at a worse time. Indian football is already dealing with funding issues and unclear competition structures. The national team’s early exit from the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers has led to a long international break, while domestic leagues like the I-League and Indian Women’s League are still awaiting confirmed schedules and sponsorships.

For AIFF, this tender was more than a business deal, it was a lifeline. Without a strong commercial partner, the federation now faces a serious financial crunch that could impact grassroots programs, youth development, and national team activities. Unless AIFF reassesses its tender strategy and terms, Indian football’s commercial ecosystem could face further instability.

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