Mumbai: India’s top footballers have issued a joint appeal to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to revive the paused Indian Super League (ISL) season, saying that their frustration has now turned into “desperation.”
The plea came days after the AIFF confirmed that it did not receive any bids for the ISL’s commercial and media rights following the Request for Proposal (RFP) floated on October 16 for a 15-year contract.
In a heartfelt video message, defender Sandesh Jhingan said,
“Where we are right now is not a delay anymore; it’s a standstill for coaches, fans, staff members, and players. We have worked too hard and sacrificed too much to let our season vanish in silence.”
He added,
“The entire Indian football ecosystem is hanging in uncertainty. Every day we wait, Indian football bleeds. We need action and we need it now.”
Chhetri, Gurpreet, and Others Stand United
Several senior players, including Sunil Chhetri and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, released a joint statement on social media expressing solidarity.
“We professional footballers who play in the Indian Super League are coming together to send a message — we stand united. To put it simply, we want to play, and now. Our anger and frustration have turned into desperation — desperation to play the game we love, in front of people who mean everything to us,” the statement read.
Chhetri added separately,
“We’re all standing shoulder to shoulder, willing to do whatever it takes to resurrect the sport we love.”
Top clubs, including Mohun Bagan, have reportedly halted training amid the league’s suspension.
AIFF Under Pressure as Supreme Court Awaits Report
The AIFF Bid Evaluation Committee, headed by Justice (Retd.) Nageswara Rao, is set to submit a report to the Supreme Court, which is monitoring the process after the commercial bid failure.
The RFP had proposed several structural reforms:
Waiver of franchise fees from the 2025–26 season
Introduction of VAR and a video support system
Promotion and relegation between ISL and I-League
A ₹18 crore salary cap per club
70% revenue distribution to ISL clubs and 30% to I-League teams
The new commercial partner was also expected to manage broadcast production (minimum 11 cameras), media rights sales, and grassroots funding.
Future of Indian Football in Limbo
The AIFF now faces an uphill task to restore the commercial framework of the ISL — launched in 2014 with the ambition of transforming Indian football’s profile and revenue model.
The failure to attract bidders after the end of its decade-long partnership with Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) has raised serious questions about the league’s financial sustainability and the federation’s management strategy.
With the season hanging in uncertainty, the players’ emotional appeal has reignited public debate about the future of Indian football and the urgent need for decisive action.
