No participation fee, financial responsibility by AIFF among conditions from clubs for ISL restart |
New Delhi: Thirteen of the 14 Indian Super League (ISL) clubs on Thursday told All India Football Federation (AIFF) that they “may be ready and willing” to take part in the delayed 2025-26 season if there is no participation fee and the national body takes financial responsibility for the organisational and operational costs of running the truncated competition.
Putting conditions on their participation in the ISL, the clubs also requested the national federation to furnish “a clear, time-bound roadmap for execution of the long-term plan, including defined timelines for appointment of a commercial partner and/or broadcaster, finalisation of the league’s revenue, governance, and risk-sharing framework, and transition to a financially self-sustaining competition model consistent with statutory governance norms”.
The ISL clubs also urged the AIFF to actively seek commercial or institutional support from the Government of India to minimise costs and help make the 2025-26 season sustainable.
“Upon receipt of the above confirmations, the undersigned clubs shall be in a position to formally confirm participation and cooperate fully with the AIFF to ensure the orderly, compliant, and successful conduct of the 2025–26 season,” a letter from the 13 clubs to the AIFF said.
The letter was in response to the AIFF’s missive on Wednesday, asking the clubs to confirm within a day their participation in the delayed ISL and the proposed format. Thursday’s letter was written by Sporting........