Bollywood actor and Northeast United FC co-owner John Abraham has expressed strong dismay over the ongoing turmoil in Indian football, labelling the situation a "shame." His comments come amidst a deepening crisis that has forced the country's top footballers to make a desperate plea to the global governing body, FIFA.
Players' Desperate Plea to FIFA
Abraham shared a recent video on social media featuring senior Indian footballers, including captain Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, and Sandesh Jhingan, alongside foreign players from the Indian Super League (ISL). In the joint appeal, the players directly asked FIFA to intervene as the country's premier football league remains suspended indefinitely.
"Shame on us… this is what we have come to," Abraham wrote, echoing the frustration felt across the football community. The players, in their video message, painted a grim picture of the sport's future in India.
"It’s January and we should be on your screens as part of a competitive football game in the Indian Super League," said goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. Defender Sandesh Jhingan added, "Instead, here we are driven by fear and desperation to say aloud something which we all know."
The core of their message was a stark warning: Indian football is facing "permanent paralysis." They asserted that the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is "no longer able to fulfil its responsibilities" and called on FIFA to step in to protect the sport's future in the country. They stressed that their appeal was not political but born out of sheer necessity, describing the scenario as a "humanitarian, sporting and economic crisis."
Root of the Crisis: Contractual Deadlock and No Bidders
The 2025-26 ISL season was put on hold back in July due to uncertainty surrounding the renewal of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between the AIFF and the league's former organisers, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL). This agreement officially expired on December 8, 2024, creating a contractual impasse that required the Supreme Court's intervention.
A court-appointed committee oversaw the issuance of a tender for the ISL's commercial rights. However, in a significant setback, the tender failed to attract any bidders, leaving the league in administrative limbo. This deadlock has pushed clubs to the brink. On Thursday, 13 of the 14 ISL clubs informed the AIFF that they might be willing to participate in a delayed season only under specific conditions: no participation fee and the federation covering all organisational costs for a shortened tournament.
AIFF's Response and a Glimmer of Hope
Following an Emergency Committee meeting on January 3, 2025, the AIFF issued a statement acknowledging the report from a special Coordination Committee. The federation stated it will conduct the league itself and promised to announce a start date the following week.
Reports from news agency PTI suggest that February 15, 2025, is being proposed as a potential start date for the beleaguered season. This move is seen as an attempt to address the concerns raised by players and clubs, though significant operational and financial challenges remain.
Throughout the crisis, the players have maintained a unified voice. "Players, staff, owners and the fans deserve clarity, protection and more importantly, a future," emphasised Sunil Chhetri. The football community now waits to see if the AIFF's promised action and a potential FIFA response can pull Indian football back from the edge of the abyss it currently faces.
