New Delhi: Indian football is facing one of its most severe crises in recent years, as the Indian Super League (ISL) the country’s flagship football tournament has been indefinitely suspended due to a long-standing broadcasting dispute. The crisis has deepened with top clubs like Bengaluru FC announcing the suspension of salary payments to players and staff, including Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri.
The root of the turmoil lies in the unresolved standoff between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the commercial partners of ISL under the Reliance Star Group. FSDL, in an official communication dated July 11, informed all stakeholders that the 2025–26 ISL season could not proceed without clarity on the renewal of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA). With no agreement in place, the league stands frozen without a start date or broadcast partner.
This uncertainty has prompted severe financial measures by some clubs. Bengaluru FC confirmed that all salary disbursements including those of players, coaching staff, and administrative personnel have been "indefinitely suspended." Sources reveal that Sunil Chhetri, who postponed his retirement to play this season, is among those affected.
The ripple effect is visible across the football fraternity, with players from various clubs reportedly considering legal action over breach of contractual obligations. The withholding of salaries could spark a larger exodus of talent from Indian football.
In a last-ditch effort to avert a full-scale collapse of the ISL ecosystem, the AIFF has called an emergency meeting on Thursday, August 7 in New Delhi. The federation will engage in crisis talks with the CEOs of eight major ISL clubs, including Kerala Blasters, which has been vocal about its concern over the league's future.
The AIFF announced the meeting via social media, promising to address the ongoing turmoil and explore alternatives to salvage the 2025–26 season. However, with the commercial partner FSDL holding the key rights and purse strings, the federation's ability to act remains limited.
For fans and athletes alike, the silence around the ISL's future is deafening. As India's footballing dreams teeter on the edge of uncertainty, the coming days will be decisive in determining whether the ISL can survive this storm or fall into an unprecedented shutdown.