Amid the ongoing crisis in Indian football, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya met representatives of I-League teams here on Thursday to listen to their grievances and called for “constructive dialogue” between all stakeholders to find a way forward.
The meeting was attended by seven representatives from 14 I-League clubs and was also attended by Sports Authority of India (SAI) Sports Secretary and Director General Hari Ranjan Rao and Joint Secretary Kunal.
“The minister has given a patient hearing to the I-League representatives and for now has instructed the SAI to intervene and engage with the stakeholders. He wants a constructive dialogue between the All India Football Federation (AIFF), Indian Super League (ISL) and I-League officials,” a well-placed source told PTI.
The I-League clubs on Wednesday abstained from a meeting called by the AIFF to find a way out of the crisis triggered by the national body’s failure to find a new commercial partner to run the domestic leagues.
This came after the partnership between Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) and AIFF fell through.
The I-League clubs have demanded a common league partner to ensure that the top-level ISL and the two I League divisions are governed by one body.
The hunt for a new commercial partner for the AIFF is being monitored by the Supreme Court, which approved the body’s new constitution in October.
The agreement between AIFF and FSDL was supposed to end in December this year, but after they failed to reach an agreement, the 2025-26 ISL season was put on hold.
Clubs such as defending champions Mohun Bagan have halted training.
Top Indian players like Sandesh Jhingan and Sunil Chhetri have urged the AIFF to end the stalemate as the livelihoods of hundreds of footballers and support staff hang in the balance.
In a joint statement on Monday, the players said their anger and frustration at the situation had turned to despair.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
November 13, 2025
