Sunil Chhetri and his India teammates, along with foreign stars, made a last-minute plea to football’s apex governing body FIFA to save Indian football amid the Indian Super League crisis. Chhetri along with Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Sandesh Jhingan and Rahul Bhek were among the players featured in a video asking the governing body to make efforts to get India’s top league running in the country.
Gurpreet started the video by saying that this was the time when they should have played in the league and others chimed in saying that the All India Football Federation was unable to fulfill its responsibilities. The players said the teams, staff, owners and fans deserve clarity, protection and a future.
“It’s January and we should be on your screens as part of a competitive Indian Super League football match. Instead, we’re here, driven by fear and desperation. To say out loud something we all know. But more importantly, we’re here to plead. Indian football management is no longer able to fulfill its responsibilities. Now we’re staring at permanent paralysis and calling on the FI to save the last step. Do what it takes, to save Indian football.”
“We hope this message will reach the powers that be in Zurich. This challenge is not political. It is not driven by confrontation, but by necessity. It may sound big, but the truth is that we are facing a humanitarian, sporting and economic crisis and of course we need a rescue as soon as possible. The players, staff, owners and fans simply deserve more clarity, protection, so that we play more.” the players said in the video.
The ISL remained suspended since September last year as they failed to find a commercial partner to run the league in the country. The uncertainty in the league has already shown The city football group ended its association with Mumbai City FC and leave ISL, while Odisha is also considering leaving.
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Published on:
January 2, 2026
