Save Indian Football”: Chhetri, Gurpreet and top players make a heartfelt appeal to FIFA

The mood in Indian football is tense — and its biggest stars are speaking up. With the Indian Super League (ISL) suspended indefinitely and no clarity on when the season will resume, players have taken their appeal to the world stage. In a powerful video message titled “Save Indian Football”, national team captain Sunil Chhetri, goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, defender Sandesh Jhingan, and several others have urged FIFA to step in and help resolve the ongoing crisis. “We just want to play football,” the players say in the video — a sentiment that echoes the frustration of fans and clubs across the country. The delay has left the football ecosystem in limbo, with careers, contracts, and club operations all hanging by a thread. The players’ collective appeal comes at a time when the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and league organisers are still trying to find common ground after months of stalled negotiations. Reports suggest that the federation may announce fresh ISL dates soon, but until then, uncertainty looms large.