In a decisive move that resolved weeks of uncertainty, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports successfully secured the participation of all fourteen top-tier clubs for the upcoming edition of the Indian Super League (ISL). The breakthrough came during a high-pressure joint meeting held in the national capital on Tuesday.
A Meeting With No Room for Delay
Club officials were summoned to Delhi at short notice, receiving individual phone calls from AIFF deputy secretary general M Satyanarayan late on Monday night. Many arrived expecting to hear a proposal, take it back for internal discussion with their owners, and deliberate. Instead, they were met with an ultimatum: time had run out, and a definitive "yes or no" was required immediately.
"We had no choice to decide whether the (short-term) proposal makes sense," revealed one club official, who had to hurriedly contact the club owner to relay the sudden developments. With their backs against the wall, the clubs began to fall in line.
Clubs Fall In Line, New Format Unveiled
Jamshedpur FC, consistent in their commitment to the top league regardless of format, were the first to provide an email confirmation. They were quickly followed by Punjab FC, East Bengal, NorthEast United, Mohammedan Sporting, and Inter Kashi. Delhi SC, Bengaluru FC, and Mohun Bagan Super Giant later confirmed their participation.
Five clubs—Kerala Blasters, Chennaiyin FC, Mumbai City, FC Goa, and Odisha FC—initially requested more time to consult ownership but ultimately agreed reluctantly. The clubs were also presented with a significant change in the league's structure. While many favored a single-leg centralized format, the AIFF proposed a single leg home and away structure for this season.
The federation estimated the home-and-away model would cost approximately ₹24.3 crore, compared to ₹38 crore for a centralized bubble format. Each club will also pay a ₹1 crore franchise fee.
Swiss System and League Details
The 2024 ISL will feature 91 matches with all 14 teams playing each other once in a Swiss-system tournament. The home and away games will be decided by draw, meaning clubs will play either 6 or 7 matches at their home venue. An AIFF official noted that some clubs in the north and Mumbai City have issues with their home grounds, so venue-ready teams will be allotted seven home games.
"Home and away format is beneficial for clubs, as it allows them to reconnect with their fan base, encouraging higher stadium attendance," the AIFF stated in its proposal, highlighting benefits for sponsor visibility and gate revenue generation.
Implications and Next Steps
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced that the league will now kick off on February 14. While the constitution mandates promotion and relegation, the AIFF is likely to seek a one-year relaxation from the Supreme Court for this truncated season.
A similar single-leg home-and-away format has been proposed for the I-League, involving 11 teams and 55 matches. Furthermore, the AIFF must now write to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to seek a one-time exemption. AFC regulations require each team to play 24 league matches for the champion to qualify for continental competitions, a condition this shortened ISL cannot meet.
This exemption is crucial as FC Goa, having won the Super Cup, has already qualified for the AFC Champions League Two playoff, and the ISL champion is slated to enter the group stages of the ACL2.
