Uneven playing field: How ISL's 'inequality' could cost clubs more than just points

New Delhi: The ongoing Indian Super League (ISL) season is into its ninth matchday with Mohun Bagan Super Giant top of the standings. They have Mumbai City FC, FC Goa, East Bengal FC, Bengaluru FC and Jamshedpur FC hot on their heels. At the other end, Mohammedan Sporting are in prime position to go down. But the league table only tells half the story.

Mohammedan Sporting have played eight games so far and have one point to show for it - a draw against Odisha FC on April 17. Of the eight games, only two have come at home -- against FC Goa (0-2 on February 20) and Bengaluru FC (1-2 on March 7). Based on the current fixture list, by the end of the season, they would have played only three home games.



While it doesn't need explaining, home advantage matters. Just ask the two other Bengal clubs. Of Mohun Bagan Super Giant's nine games and 20 points, five have been at home, earning them 12 points. East Bengal have played seven home games out of eight overall, pocketing 12 points out of 15 overall in the process.

East Bengal's upcoming 'home' fixture, against Odisha FC, will be played in Goa due to elections in West Bengal. They will return to home base to face Punjab FC on May 11. In all, nine of East Bengal's 12 scheduled matches would have been played at home.

The inequality isn't restricted to the ISL alone. Rajasthan United, who finished third in Stage 1 of the Indian Football League and boasted the best home record, will be denied taking that momentum into the Championship Stage. Following the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) directive on mandatory floodlights, RUFC will instead play their home matches over 500 kilometres away at Namdhari's facilities in Ludhiana.

Returning to the ISL, Odisha FC have also had a change in its home venue. Their upcoming 'home' matches against Bengaluru FC (May 4) and Punjab FC (May 16) will be played in Goa.

Varanasi-based Inter Kashi have played three 'home' games in Kolkata while their own stadium is being built; this number will increase to four by the end. Mohali-based Punjab FC have played its home fixtures in New Delhi.

Amid these inequalities, the ramifications of a poor - or strong - season apply. The team that doesn't do well in the ISL will be relegated to the IFL and the team that does well in the IFL will be promoted. The relegated teams will be impacted by a drop in revenue, business opportunities, broadcast coverage, among others. Meanwhile the team that wins the title will earn higher prize money, play continental football, be able to interest the bigger talents etc.

Yet, force majeure remains a hushed topic within AIFF corridors. The current AIFF Constitution, ratified by the Supreme Court, mandates promotion and relegation in India's top division. It also puts the ISL in compliance with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Statutes.

In 2019, AIFF, clubs, and then commercial partner Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) accepted the AFC's proposal to have relegation starting from the 2024-25 season. That promise will be kept from this season onwards.

In January, all 14 ISL clubs wrote to the Sports Ministry and asked for relegation to be scrapped for the season and three to five seasons thereafter. They asked that the 2025-26 season be considered a "virtual force majeure." There has been no headway on that matter since.

The FIFA and Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rulings on similar cases in the past might not help the ISL clubs get away from the liability of paying salaries. But the fact that this has not been a equal season for all teams cannot be ignored.

Yet, the fact that promotion and relegation will take place across India's top two divisions is a grave injustice after what the AIFF chief Kalyan Chaubey himself described as a "crisis."

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