AIFF and ISL teams bury the hatchet, ink four-year deal with club-led model

New Delhi: All India Football Federation (AIFF) Deputy Secretary General M. Satyanarayan, second from left, addresses a press conference on the Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27 season plan along with FC Goa Vice President Ravi Puskur, left, FC NorthEast United Managing Director Mandar Tamhan, second right, Sporting Club Delhi CEO Dhruv Sood, in New Delhi. (PTI Photo) (PTI07_08_2026_000158A) New Delhi: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Indian Super League (ISL) came together on the same platform on Wednesday to announce an agreement for a four-year club-led model at the pinnacle of Indian football. Within it, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) will be created to operate the commercial aspects of ISL. If all 14 clubs participate, the AIFF will take home R15.4 million (Rs1.1 million each) in administrative fees and 10 percent of the net profit.TimesofIndia.com understands that an agreement has been reached on three points of contention between the ISL and AIFF clubs: an independent audit of the SPV; 10% share of net profit and termination clause.

ISL commercial rights: AIFF gets two different offers

As the national governing body, the AIFF will be responsible for decision-making, legality, integrity and anti-doping efforts.Apart from Rs 1.1 crore in the first year, ISL clubs will contribute Rs 1.15 crore, Rs 1.20 crore and Rs 1.25 crore in the next three years. Clubs will have the option to suspend this contract after two years, but will have to give the AIFF proper notice.“The ISL will be commercially run on a club model. A letter will be sent to all 14 teams asking them to pay the participation fees. Based on their responses, it will be decided how the league will continue,” said AIFF Deputy General Secretary M Satyanarayanan.“We’re planning it as a four-year model. After two years, clubs can decide whether they want to leave the model or continue. But given the way things are going, that’s probably not going to happen,” he continued.

New Delhi: All India Football Federation (AIFF) Deputy General Secretary M. Satyanarayan addresses a press conference on the 2026-27 Indian Super League (ISL) season schedule while FC Goa Vice President Ravi Puskur, left, looks on, in New Delhi. (PTI Photo) (PTI07_08_2026_000159B)

The AIFF did not fully embrace the club-led model when it was proposed on 14 May. However, after a meeting with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on June 8, the stance changed.“(The) AIFF never said that we were against a club-led model. Earlier there was an MRA (Master Rights Agreement) partner (FSDL) that ran the league. And then there was a Supreme Court ruling that said the AIFF has to own and run the league. So based on that, we are now taking a bit more ownership to do the league,” explained Satyanarayanan.

New Delhi: All India Football Federation (AIFF) Deputy General Secretary M. Satyanarayan, centre, FC Goa Vice President Ravi Puskur, left, and NorthEast United FC CEO Mandar Tamhane during a press conference on the 2026-27 Indian Super League (ISL) schedule in New Delhi. (PTI Photo) (PTI07_08_2026_000157A)

“Now, when it comes to a third party like Genius Sport that asked to run the league, or when our clubs applied, they said we have the expertise, we’ll run it. The right choice we have to make is to trust our clubs because they’re one of our biggest stakeholders. And they know that if they don’t do it well, they’re in trouble. So this is the model,” he elaborated.According to the new model, a new entity will be created that will oversee the functioning of ISL. Among other things, his role will include securing sponsors and broadcasters while ensuring the clubs’ long-term financial sustainability.“We will have a professional team that we will try to appoint. In the next few days, maybe weeks, you will see advertisements for the positions where the candidates will be conducted very transparently between the people at the clubs and the AIFF will decide to stand on the panel for the interview. And this professional team will make independent decisions of the league. It will not have any direct influence on the clubs,” said Ravi Pus of FC Goa.

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Share an opinion“Apart of course from the fact that this professional team reports to the Board of Governors, which will have club representation at either director level or owner level. Which of course will be to ensure that the sustainability of the league is maintained.”But otherwise, the professional team will manage the day-to-day operations of the league,” he further explained.Genius Sports, which offered Rs 2,130 crore for the commercial rights of the ISL and the Federation Cup over the 15+5 year cycle, is still in contention. The clubs are now awaiting word from the London-based company that the scope has changed.