11 clubs unsure about next season’s ISL

Panaji: At least 11 of the 14 top tier clubs are “reviewing the extent of their commitment to the Indian Super League (ISL) beyond the current season” due to continued uncertainty surrounding Indian football.Club owners had two virtual meetings with senior All India Football Federation (AIFF) officials on Friday, crucially a day before the special general meeting in Kolkata deliberates on the commercial partners for the league. The first meeting saw president Kalyan Chaubey in attendance, while vice president NA Haris chaired the second meeting where clubs made a detailed presentation, proposing a club-led model for the future operation and commercialisation of ISL, with Genius Sports – who have bid for the commercial rights -- acting as the league’s data and technology partner.According to one official, “the meeting did not end well” as AIFF showed little or no interest in the proposal. The federation is understood to be in favour of Genius who has bid Rs 64.4 crore annually with 5% increase every year for commercial rights of ISL and Federation Cup.Later in the day, club owners decided to issue a joint statement. While nine clubs -- Kerala Blasters, Mohun Bagan, Bengaluru FC, Mumbai City, FC Goa, Sporting Club Delhi, Odisha FC, Inter Kashi and Chennaiyin -- shared the statement on social media, Punjab FC and NorthEast United were tagged. “Punjab are waiting for owner’s approval while others are all on board,” said another official.Except East Bengal, all others had either the owner or club representative attending the meeting.“Our clubs have consistently invested in Indian football, often in difficult and uncertain circumstances, and remain deeply committed to its future. However, the continued absence of structural certainty, commercial clarity and long-term visibility has made it increasingly difficult to justify the financial and operational commitments required to compete sustainably,” the clubs said in the statement late on Friday.Clubs said they are disappointed that those who have funded and sustained the league continue to face uncertainty over the structure within which they are expected to operate.“At the heart of Indian football’s future must be a financially sustainable league,” said the clubs. “The clubs have proposed an alternative model which we believe is credible, constructive and worthy of being evaluated on merit, alongside any other proposal before the AIFF.”The AIFF has called for a special general meeting in Kolkata on Saturday to get its commercial rights proposals for ISL and IWL approved. However, constitutional hurdles mean that the agenda items would only be “discussed and deliberated” among the members.AIFF executive committee member Valanka Alemao has noted that the federation has not constituted associations for players, coaches and referees to expand the general body as per the order of the Supreme Court.