Indian football has been thrown a crucial lifeline in the midst of a severe administrative and sporting crisis. In a significant development on January 3, 2026, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) declared it would take direct charge of conducting the long-delayed Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 season. This decision comes just one day after the country's top footballers, including captain Sunil Chhetri, made a desperate public appeal to FIFA for intervention.
Players' Desperate Plea to FIFA
The crisis reached a breaking point in early January 2026. With the league season stalled since mid-2025 and no commercial partner in sight, frustration among players boiled over. In a powerful video titled "Save Indian Football," stars like Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Sandesh Jhingan, and foreign players like Hugo Boumous united to voice their fears.
"It's January, and we should be on your screens as part of a competitive football game in the Indian Super League," stated goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, highlighting the lost time. Defender Sandesh Jhingan echoed the sentiment of desperation, while legendary striker Sunil Chhetri emphasized that everyone involved deserved clarity and a future.
Their collective message to the world governing body was stark. They asserted that the Indian football governing body was "no longer able to fulfil its responsibilities" and the sport was staring at a "permanent paralysis." Describing it as a humanitarian, sporting, and economic crisis, they made a non-political plea for FIFA in Zurich to step in and rescue Indian football so they could simply play the game.
AIFF's Emergency Response
Facing immense pressure, the AIFF's office bearers convened an emergency meeting on January 3, 2026. The meeting was held to review a report submitted by a specially formed AIFF-ISL Coordination Committee. This committee had been constituted on December 20, 2025, following earlier executive committee and annual general meetings.
The Coordination Committee had been tasked with submitting its findings by January 2, 2026. After formally acknowledging the report, the AIFF office bearers made the critical recommendation: the league will be conducted by the All India Football Federation itself.
A Path Forward with New Dates
This decisive move by the AIFF offers immediate relief to players, club staff, team owners, and millions of fans across the nation. The federation has confirmed that the official date for the commencement of the ISL 2025-26 season will be announced in the coming week, providing the much-needed clarity everyone demanded.
The direct intervention by the national federation to salvage the premier league competition marks a pivotal moment. It addresses the immediate threat of a void season but also sets the stage for crucial structural discussions about the future governance and commercial health of professional football in India.
