In a significant development for Indian football, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the country's top clubs have found common ground, raising hopes for the long-delayed start of the Indian Super League (ISL) in early February. This alignment comes after months of uncertainty and stalled negotiations.
A New 20-Season Vision for Indian Football
The AIFF presented a comprehensive 20-season plan for the top-tier league during a virtual meeting with club officials on Friday. According to the proposal, the league will be owned and operated by the federation, as mandated by its new constitution. The model requires participating clubs to pay a Rs 1 crore participation fee and contribute annually to the league's operational budget based on their shareholding percentage.
The proposed shareholding structure is a key feature of the plan. Participating clubs will collectively hold a 50% majority stake for a contribution of Rs 35 crore to the general revenue pool. A commercial partner is being offered a 21% share for an annual investment of Rs 21 crore. The AIFF itself will retain a 10% stake for Rs 7 crore, with the remaining 10% allocated for club distribution as a 'fixed revenue share'. The central operations budget for the upcoming season has been set at Rs 70 crore.
Positive Reception and Road to Finalization
Initial reactions from the clubs appear positive. AIFF deputy secretary general M Satyanarayan stated that the proposal was well-received and expressed hope that this positivity would lead to the league's commencement, which is of primary importance to players and stakeholders. The federation aims to wrap up discussions within the next ten days and announce a start date.
A crucial in-person meeting of all clubs has been scheduled for December 29 in Delhi. The AIFF expects to finalize the long-term proposal and decide on the competition format for the current season at this meeting. While not officially confirmed, the federation is targeting February 7 as the potential start date for the league, which would give clubs at least a month's notice to prepare their squads.
Club Queries and Governance Model
Despite the positive outlook, club officials have highlighted areas requiring clarification. One major concern revolves around the rights of the commercial partner and overall governance. Officials question whether a partner would invest Rs 21 crore annually without significant control over league operations, such as scheduling matches on weekends under lights.
In response, the AIFF has indicated that a league board, empowered by its general body, will oversee governance with certain operational autonomy over commercial matters. The federation's proposal marks a shift from its earlier stance of demanding a mandatory annual rights fee, bringing it closer to what clubs have advocated.
The proposed model is an open system incorporating promotion and relegation. A relegated team must surrender its participation share to the promoted team. Furthermore, 2% of the central revenue pool is earmarked for parachute payments, with a maximum of 1% per club per season for two seasons to support relegated teams.
With most clubs having paused first-team operations due to the prolonged uncertainty, the finalization of this plan is eagerly awaited. The next week's discussions will focus on operational expenses, salary caps, and long-term investment protection, potentially heralding a new, stable era for top-flight football in India.
