Pay fee or face disqualification, AIFF warns ISL clubs

Panaji: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has warned clubs that they will be “deemed disqualified” from the next edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) if they do not make payments as per agreed timelines.
The decision of the AIFF, the federation said in an email to all clubs on Thursday, “shall be final, binding, and not appealable.”
As per the revised financial model for ISL 2025–26 season, clubs have to pay Rs 30 lakh latest by March 5, another Rs 30 lakh between March 28 and April 4, and Rs 20 lakh by May 1. Balance payments are to be paid upon reconciliation of accounts as determined by AIFF.
“A fine of Rs 1 lakh per day shall be levied for each day of delay from the due date until actual payment. Upon the expiry of seven days of continued non-payment, AIFF shall issue a notice of disqualification to the club. If the default is not remedied within four days from the date of such notice, the club shall be deemed disqualified from participation in the next season of the ISL, without any further communication.”
Club officials were surprised at the communication.
“The timelines and figures are as per discussions held with the clubs but the threat of disqualification is new. Maybe, AIFF really needs the money. Its financial situation is precarious,” said a senior official.
Interestingly, while AIFF had earlier announced that it would contribute Rs 9.7 crore towards the league’s operational costs for the season, the financial model shows the federation’s contribution as 0.
“Here the clubs are bleeding financially while AIFF is making money at our expense,” said another official. “At the end of the league, once the clubs have paid the fixed participation fee, AIFF will make a profit of Rs 3.5 crore.
The AIFF has been left with a deficit of Rs 25.9 crore till June this year and have been forced to cut down many activities till it finds a new commercial partner. The federation ran most of its activities with the Rs 50 crore that its marketing partners, Reliance-subsidiary FSDL, paid annually in return for commercial rights of all leagues and the national team. The 15-year contract ended Dec 8 last year, leaving the federation high and dry.