New Delhi, Jun 19 (PTI) Indian Super League (ISL) organisers have told the clubs that the 2025-26 edition will not kick off until there is clarity over the status of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) signed with the All India Football Federation (AIFF), putting the country’s top-tier competition in a limbo.
Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), which runs the ISL, is the commercial partner of the AIFF, with whom the national federation signed a 15-year MRA in 2010.
Under the MRA, FSDL pays the AIFF Rs 50 crore annually. FSDL, in turn, gets the rights to broadcast, manage and commercialise Indian football, including the national team.
“FSDL has told the ISL club owners verbally that the next edition will not start until there is clarity on the MRA,” a source privy to the development told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
“MRA ends in December and there is no clarity whether it will be renewed or a new agreement will be signed.” The AIFF, however, said that FSDL has not told anything about the fate of the ISL to the national federation.
“We have not got any communication from the FSDL regarding ISL,” AIFF Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan said when asked if the league will start on time. In the last two seasons, the ISL began in September.
According to another source, FSDL is learnt to favour creating a new holding company that operates the ISL, with participating clubs (60%), FSDL (26%) and AIFF (14%) as shareholders.
“May be, there might be other arrangements for other properties like I-League, national teams etc. But it is very sketchy as of now regarding what the FSDL and AIFF want,” the source said.
The matter has also become complex after the Supreme Court directive to the AIFF not to take any major decision until the final decision on a pending case on the constitution of the national federation is given. On April 30, the SC had reserves its verdict.
In April, the AIFF had formed an eight-member task force to look into MRA negotiations with the FSDL. Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia, who is also AIFF executive committee member, had then told the brass to wait till the Supreme Court verdict which is likely to come in July.
“If the SC directs new election of the AIFF, then the MRA will have to be negotiated by the new office bearers and that will take time,” a former official said.
“Still, there may be enough time for the 2025-26 to happen, may be by squeezing the schedule or stretching the end date. That is the best case scenario.” 2025-26 calendar issued last month did not mention ISL =================================== The AIFF last month issued the competition calendar for 2025-26 season and there was no mention of the ISL in it. But, a source said the calendar was for events which come directly under the AIFF and ISL schedule is put up only after consulting the FSDL.
“There was nothing to be interpreted from the calendar. Firstly, it was issued last month and secondly, it was meant for events which are conducted directly by the AIFF,” the source said.
“ISL is not directly conducted by the AIFF and so the ISL dates were not there in the calendar. Moreover, the AIFF always consults the FSDL before announcing ISL dates. So, there is nothing in the calendar regarding the ISL.” PTI PDS PDS SSC SSC
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