ISL to kick off on Feb 14 as cornered clubs say yes to top league

Panaji: The sports ministry and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) turned the tables on top-tier clubs during a joint meeting in the Capital on Tuesday, leaving them with no choice but agree to take part in this edition of the Indian Super League (ISL).

Sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya later announced that the ISL will kick off on Feb 14 with all 14 teams taking part.


When clubs headed to the Capital at short notice — summoned individually through a phone call late on Monday night by AIFF deputy secretary general M Satyanarayan — they were expecting to hear the proposal, return home, study and then consult owners. Instead, they were told time was running out and they had to say “yes or no” on Tuesday itself.

“We had no choice to decide whether the (short-term) proposal makes sense,” said one club official who had to hurriedly call the club owner and inform him of the latest developments.

Consistent in their stand that they are taking part in the top league, whatever the format and financial implications, Jamshedpur FC were the first to provide an email confirmation, followed by the likes of Punjab FC, East Bengal, NorthEast United, Mohammedan Sporting and Inter Kashi. Later, Delhi SC Bengaluru FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant came on board. Five clubs — Kerala Blasters, Chennaiyin FC, Mumbai City, FC Goa and Odisha FC — needed time to speak with their owners and reluctantly agreed.

ISL clubs were also taken aback with the change in format. While most were in favour of a single-leg centralised format, AIFF proposed a single leg home and away structure for the current season, estimated to cost ₹24.3 crore. AIFF said a single leg centralised format will cost Rs 38 crore, adding to the cost.

The ISL will have a total of 91 matches with all 14 teams playing each other once. Clubs have to pay Rs 1 crore each as franchise fee.

As per the constitution, the top league will have principles of promotion and relegation, but AIFF is likely to approach the Supreme Court for a one-year relaxation, given that it will be a truncated league.

A similar single leg home-and-away format has been mooted for I-League (11 teams, 55 matches) too. Clubs, though, are likely to be given an option of choosing an additional champions (six teams) and relegation (five teams) structure, after the conclusion of the single-leg league.

“Home and away format is beneficial for clubs, as it allows them to reconnect with their fan base, encouraging higher stadium attendance and giving supporters the opportunity to watch their teams compete and perform in their own cities,” AIFF said in its proposal. “Hosting home matches significantly enhances sponsor visibility and activation opportunities at the local level, thereby strengthening club–sponsor engagement. Clubs will also have the opportunity to generate gate revenues, contributing to improved financial sustainability.”

In a single-leg home and away Swiss-system tournament format, the home and away games are decided by lots with clubs playing 6-7 games either at home or away.

“Some clubs in the north and Mumbai City have problems with their home venues, so we will allot venue-ready teams with seven home games and six away,” said one official. AIFF expects at least eight of the 14 clubs to have their home venues ready in time for the ISL kick off next month.

AIFF will now write to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and seek a one-time exemption for its inability to conduct 24 league matches for each team, a mandatory requirement to qualify for continental competitions.

FC Goa have already qualified for the AFC Champions League Two playoff, after winning the Super Cup last month. The ISL champion qualifies for the group stages of ACL2, Asian football’s second-tier club competition.