Indian Football in Turmoil: AIFF Calls Emergency Summit
The Football House in New Delhi witnessed unprecedented activity as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) scrambled to address the escalating crisis in Indian football through a series of back-to-back emergency meetings. With the sport's future hanging in the balance, the federation convened urgent discussions with multiple stakeholders on Wednesday, November 12, following the complete failure to attract bidders for commercial rights.
Stakeholder Meetings and Divided Responses
The AIFF called for interactions on short notice, giving stakeholders less than three hours to prepare for consecutive meetings with Executive Committee members, Indian Super League captains, club CEOs, and I-League owners. While most ISL clubs and their captains – with the notable exceptions of Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal – participated actively, exploring ways to pool resources and ensure the top-tier tournament proceeds, the I-League clubs staged a significant boycott.
Eight I-League clubs deliberately abstained from the AIFF meeting, choosing instead to take their concerns directly to Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in a scheduled meeting on Thursday. This move highlights the deepening rift within the Indian football community and the growing dissatisfaction with the current governance structure.
The I-League Ultimatum and Unified Structure Proposal
In a strongly worded communication to AIFF deputy secretary general M Satyanarayan, the I-League clubs presented a comprehensive proposal and a firm deadline. The clubs emphasized the critical need for a multi-tier league national structure for football development in the country, specifically suggesting that all three leagues – ISL, I-League, and I-League 2 – should be managed by one common league partner to ensure holistic growth and sustainability.
Furthermore, the clubs issued a stark ultimatum, demanding that the AIFF announce the new season within the next 10 days. They insisted on a kick-off date no later than January 5, 2026, preferably by December 15, with mandatory live broadcasting on major platforms Star Sports and JioHotstar or Sony Sports Network and SonyLiv.
Legal Pressure and Commercial Failure
The federation's desperate flurry of meetings was largely driven by an impending Supreme Court hearing. Justice (Retd.) L. Nageswara Rao, Chairperson of the Bid Evaluation Committee, is scheduled to brief the court on the current situation in Indian football, adding significant legal pressure on the AIFF to resolve the crisis. This urgency follows the embarrassing failure of the AIFF's attempt to attract bids for commercial rights on November 7, which found no takers, exposing the deep commercial challenges facing the sport.
The coming days will be crucial as the Sports Minister's intervention and the Supreme Court hearing could determine the future trajectory of Indian football, with stakeholders watching closely to see if the AIFF can navigate this complex crisis and implement a sustainable structure for the beautiful game in India.
