In an unprecedented move highlighting the deepening turmoil in Indian football, a coalition of top domestic and international players from the Indian Super League (ISL) has directly appealed to FIFA, the world's governing football body, to intervene and rescue the sport from collapse.
A Desperate Plea from the Pitch
The crisis came to a head on Friday, January 2, 2026, when a host of players, led by iconic figures like former India captain Sunil Chhetri, national team goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, and defender Sandesh Jhingan, released a powerful joint statement on social media. They painted a grim picture of the sport's future in the country.
"It's January and we should be on your screens as part of a competitive football game in the Indian Super League," stated Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, capturing the frustration over the delayed and uncertain 2025-26 season. Sandesh Jhingan echoed the sentiment, adding, "Instead, here we are driven by fear and desperation to say aloud something which we all know."
The players' statement was a direct indictment of the current administration. "Indian football government is no longer able to fulfil its responsibilities. We are now staring at a permanent paralysis," they declared, framing their appeal as a last-ditch effort to salvage the game.
Sunil Chhetri emphasized the human cost, stating, "Players, staff, owners and the fans deserve clarity, protection and more importantly, a future." The collective plea to FIFA was clear: "This call is not political, it is not driven by confrontation but by necessity... We are facing a humanitarian, sporting and economic crisis. We just want to play football, please help us do it."
Clubs Lay Down Demands to AIFF
The players' public outcry follows concrete action from the clubs themselves. On Thursday, a staggering thirteen out of the fourteen ISL clubs presented a set of strict conditions to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for their participation in the stalled season.
Their primary demands include the complete waiver of the participation fee and a firm commitment from the AIFF to bear the organizational and operational costs of running a truncated competition. Furthermore, the clubs have demanded a "clear, time-bound roadmap" from the national federation.
This roadmap must detail the appointment of a commercial partner or broadcaster, finalize the league's revenue and governance model, and outline a transition to a financially self-sustaining structure. In a significant move, the clubs have also urged the AIFF to seek commercial or institutional support from the Government of India to ensure the season's sustainability.
A Sport on the Brink
The situation underscores a profound governance and financial failure. The stark reality was highlighted by a referenced statistic: in 2025, Indian football witnessed 16 Supreme Court hearings but only 12 matches played. This imbalance between legal battles and on-field action encapsulates the crisis.
The direct appeal to FIFA by the players, bypassing the national federation, is an extreme step that signals a complete breakdown of trust. It places immense international pressure on the AIFF and raises the possibility of external oversight. The coming days will be critical in determining whether this unified plea from the heart of Indian football can catalyze a solution or if the feared paralysis will set in permanently.
