In a remarkable display of solidarity, FC Goa players and support staff have agreed to take voluntary pay cuts for the upcoming Indian Super League season. This decision comes during a period of significant uncertainty in Indian football.
A Selfless Decision During Turbulent Times
The Goan football club announced this development through an official statement on social media platform X. Club officials described having honest and difficult conversations with the team about the current challenges facing Indian football.
"Our First Team players and Technical Staff stepped forward, stood together, and chose to support the club," FC Goa stated. The club emphasized that this was not an easy decision but rather a selfless one made to ensure the team's stability.
Leadership Sets the Example
India's national team captain Sandesh Jhingan leads the group of players accepting reduced remuneration. Other prominent Indian internationals in the squad include Udanta Singh and Boris Singh, who have also agreed to the salary adjustments.
FC Goa expressed being deeply humbled by this collective gesture. The club acknowledged that such moments demonstrate their organization extends beyond on-field results, highlighting the importance of people, belief, and unity during challenging periods.
Broader Context in Indian Football
This development follows similar appeals within the Indian football community. Earlier this month, Bengaluru FC owner Parth Jindal publicly urged players to make sacrifices due to financial pressures. While not specifying details, this was widely interpreted as referring to potential salary reductions.
Bengaluru FC's squad includes former India captain Sunil Chhetri and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, adding significance to the financial discussions occurring across the league.
Season Details and Background
The 2025-26 ISL season will begin on February 14th with all fourteen clubs participating. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya recently confirmed these details after considerable uncertainty surrounding the league's future.
The season had faced disruption when Football Sports Development Limited terminated its Master Rights Agreement with the All India Football Federation on December 8th. This followed disagreements over contract renewal. Subsequent attempts to find a new commercial partner through an AIFF tender failed to attract bidders.
Following government intervention and negotiations, all clubs agreed to participate in a shortened season format. The truncated season will feature ninety-one matches played on a home-and-away basis, with each team playing thirteen games. Official fixtures are expected to be announced next week.
The AIFF has confirmed that the shortened ISL season has received recognition from the Asian Football Confederation. Both ISL and Super Cup champions will receive indirect qualification slots as part of this arrangement.
