In a dramatic turn of events, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Sports Ministry secured the participation of all fourteen top-tier clubs for the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season during a crucial joint meeting in Panaji on Tuesday. The clubs, summoned at short notice, found themselves with little room for negotiation, leading to a unanimous, albeit in some cases reluctant, agreement.
A Meeting of Ultimatums and Quick Decisions
The clubs were called to the capital individually through late-night phone calls on Monday by AIFF deputy secretary general M Satyanarayan. Expecting to merely hear a proposal and consult their owners later, officials were taken aback when they were pressed for an immediate "yes or no" answer on Tuesday itself, with authorities citing a severe time crunch.
"We had no choice to decide whether the (short-term) proposal makes sense," revealed one club official, who had to hurriedly brief the club owner over the phone. Jamshedpur FC, maintaining their consistent stand to participate in the top league regardless of format, was the first to send an email confirmation. They were followed by Punjab FC, East Bengal, NorthEast United, Mohammedan Sporting, and Inter Kashi. Delhi SC, Bengaluru FC, and Mohun Bagan Super Giant later joined. Five clubs—Kerala Blasters, Chennaiyin FC, Mumbai City, FC Goa, and Odisha FC—sought time for owner consultations but ultimately agreed.
New Format and Financial Framework Unveiled
The meeting also brought surprises regarding the league's structure. Contrary to the popular expectation of a single-leg centralized format, the AIFF proposed a single leg home-and-away structure for this season. The federation estimated this model would cost approximately Rs 24.3 crore, significantly less than the Rs 38 crore projected for a centralized bubble format.
The ISL will feature 91 matches, with each of the 14 teams playing every other once. Each club must pay a franchise fee of Rs 1 crore. While promotion and relegation principles stand as per the constitution, the AIFF is likely to seek a one-year relaxation from the Supreme Court due to the truncated nature of this edition.
Announcing the decision, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya stated, "Due to some disputes pending before the court, there was uncertainty about the commencement of the ISL. Today, government, football federation, and 14 clubs... had a meeting and we have decided that ISL will start Feb 14 on Saturday. All 14 clubs will participate." He confirmed the I-League would also run concurrently with all 11 clubs.
Financial Pool and Governing Council
AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey detailed the financial arrangements, announcing a central pool of Rs 25 crore for conducting the ISL. The funding breakdown is: 10% from AIFF, 50% from clubs, and 10% from legacy partners. The remaining 30%, intended from a commercial partner, will be covered by the AIFF for this season due to the absence of such a partner.
Chaubey also revealed that a Governing Council Board (GCB) will be formed to manage the leagues. This board will be empowered to make all commercial decisions, aiming for smoother operations.
The eleventh-hour resolution ensures that Indian football fans will have a season to look forward to, starting on February 14, 2025, marking a pivotal moment after weeks of uncertainty surrounding the country's premier football competition.
