New Delhi:The 2025-26 season’s Indian Super League game has led to a heightened conflict between Indian Super League clubs and the All India Football Federation. Several clubs have released public statements saying their long-term involvement in the competition could be reviewed if the current uncertainty over the league is not resolved.
The joint statement was issued by Kerala Blasters, Mumbai City FC, Bengaluru FC, Inter Kashi and Sporting Club Delhi on their official social media handles on Friday, less than 24 hours before the AIFF’s Special General Body Meeting.
The Indian Super League clubs released a joint statement saying they are “deeply concerned and disappointed” and that the clubs “are now compelled to review the extent of our commitment to the league beyond the current season” given the continued uncertainty surrounding professional football in India.
The clubs cited mounting financial pressure and the lack of a clear long-term roadmap as the key issues facing the future of the league. Given that the recently concluded season was played on a one-leg basis and lasted just more than three months, they said in the letter that the current structure doesn’t provide clarity.
“Our clubs have always invested in Indian football, even in tough and uncertain times, and we remain firmly committed to its future. But the ongoing lack of structural clarity, commercial clarity and long term visibility has made it increasingly difficult to justify the financial and operational commitments necessary to compete on a sustainable basis,” the statement added.
What happened to the Genius Sports deal?The dispute is over the commercial direction of the ISL after the expiry of the Master Rights Agreement between the AIFF and Football Sports Development Limited earlier in the season. The impasse resulted in long delays and the 2025-26 campaign being shortened to 13 matches that did not start until February.
Another point of contention, it is understood, is a proposed long-term deal with Genius Sports. The company is understood to have submitted the highest bid earlier this year with a proposed Rs 2129 crore deal for 15+5 years but clubs are believed to be resisting the current structure attached to the arrangement.
Instead, the ISL teams are supporting a different model in which Genius Sports would be a data and technology partner and the clubs would have the majority of the league’s commercial rights.
“A financially-sustainable league must be at the core of the future of Indian football. The clubs have proposed a counter model which we believe is credible, constructive and worthy of being considered on merits, like any other proposal before the AIFF.”
“We also urge the AIFF to acknowledge the realities of those who are funding and running the league and collaborate towards a framework that is sustainable, inclusive and created with all stakeholders in mind,” the statement further read.
The AIFF also goes into Saturday’s meeting under increased scrutiny after objections were raised over the legality of the General Body structure itself, adding another layer of uncertainty into an already tense period for Indian football.
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