Five ways in which MRA stall is affecting Indian Football

The future of ISL clubs and Indian football continues to be in limbo.

The back-and-forth battle with regard to the future of Indian football continues to be a subject of conversation among football fans in the country, as an extended stall in the Media Rights Agreement (MRA), the primary revenue engine behind the nation’s professional football structure, has far-reaching consequences.

From the shuttering of operations by clubs and sponsors pulling out to stagnation at the grassroots, an unresolved MRA places Indian football in a vulnerable position at a crucial moment in its growth trajectory.

For Indian football to continue its upward trajectory, resolving media rights uncertainties is essential. The following five areas highlight the most significant ways the sport is impacted by the MRA stall:

5. Football clubs approaching commercial impossibility

The most immediate and visible consequence of an MRA stall is financial paralysis for clubs. Indian football clubs, unlike many European counterparts, rely heavily on centralised revenue distribution from league broadcasting deals. Without stable media rights income, cash flow dries up rapidly. The drying up of finances leads to budget cuts, salary delays, and, in worst cases, clubs shutting down entirely, a scenario Indian football might witness if situations persist.

Operating a professional club requires predictable revenue to cover logistics, player contracts, youth academies and maintaining infrastructure. Without the MRA, clubs are forced into survival mode: recruitment halts, and sponsorship deals weaken because brands hesitate to invest in a product with diminished visibility. As a result, the absence of financial security destabilises the entire league ecosystem, threatening the competitive integrity and long-term viability of football in India.

4. Disruptions in the AFC calendar

An unresolved MRA also disrupts India’s participation in the Asian Football Confederation calendar. AFC competitions — including the AFC Champions League 2, AFC Cup, and youth-level tournaments — rely on domestic leagues to maintain a consistent season schedule. If leagues are forced to pause, compress, or alter their timelines due to financial uncertainty, Indian clubs struggle to prepare and compete internationally.

Inconsistent scheduling affects player fitness cycles, pre-season planning, and even club licensing criteria, many of which require financial stability as a prerequisite. Prolonged uncertainty risks damaging AIFF’s credibility within AFC structures and may lead to reduced visibility or penalties if commitments are not fulfilled. This undermines India’s ambitions of becoming a stronger footballing nation in Asia.

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3. Impact on the Indian Football Team

The national team’s performance is inextricably tied to the health of the domestic football pyramid. When clubs struggle financially or halt operations, the supply of match-fit, high-performing players diminishes. A stalled MRA weakens league competitiveness, slows player development, and disrupts scouting channels.

National team depends on regular minutes for the selected players at club level to evaluate form and fitness; without this, squad selection for big games becomes more challenging. Additionally, uncertainty in domestic football reduces opportunities for tactical experimentation, youth integration, and focused training camps.

The cumulative effect is a national team lacking sharpness, depth and cohesion, especially in high-stakes tournaments like AFC Asian Cup qualifiers or World Cup qualification rounds. Simply put, when ISL suffers, the national team inevitably feels the shockwaves.

2. Declining interest and viewership of the sport

Broadcast visibility is the lifeline of modern sports engagement. Fans can only follow sports when they can watch the action live and in living color. When an MRA stall results in delayed broadcasts, reduced production quality, or fewer televised matches, fan engagement drops significantly.

Indian football has worked hard over the past decade to cultivate a loyal viewer base. A broadcast blackout or inconsistent coverage risks undoing that progress. Digital-age audiences have endless alternatives, from global football leagues to other Indian sports, making continuity essential to retaining their attention.

1. Stagnation of grassroots development

Perhaps the most damaging long-term effect of an MRA stall is the stagnation of grassroots football. Grassroots programs rely heavily on funds trickling down from professional clubs, league revenues and federation support. If the top tier is financially compromised, youth academies, scouting networks, training centers and community leagues suffer immediate setbacks.

Coaching development slows, talent identification becomes inconsistent, and promising young players lose access to structured pathways. Without investment at the foundational level, India risks losing an entire generation of footballers.

The sport’s future depends on strengthening its roots, and a stalled MRA prevents precisely that — delaying progress by years and widening the gap between India and more established footballing nations.

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