The administrative gridlock in Indian football shows no sign of easing as Indian Super League (ISL) clubs are now being asked to submit proposals to form a consortium to run the league. The request comes amid continued uncertainty over the start of the 2025-26 ISL season, which has yet to receive any official clearance or timetable.
All ISL club representatives have been invited to attend the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Annual General Meeting on Saturday, where the issue is expected to be discussed. Ahead of the AGM, clubs have been instructed to submit their consortium proposals to the Sports Ministry by Friday evening, although there is no guarantee that a clear outcome will emerge from the talks.
The proposal was also discussed during a virtual meeting on Thursday, which was attended by senior AIFF officials, representatives of ISL clubs and members of the Sports Ministry. Club officials remain cautious, with some acknowledging that while a submission has been requested, it does not guarantee approval or an immediate resolution.
The idea of forming a consortium was initially mooted by the ISL clubs as a way to break the ongoing commercial gridlock that has paralyzed India’s top football league. However, the AIFF said any structural or commercial change would require approval under its new constitution. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the general body of the federation has yet to be fully restored according to this constitution, which limits the scope for immediate changes.
There is also further uncertainty due to the likely implementation of the National Sports Grievance Act in the near future, which could introduce new management requirements. Officials familiar with the process acknowledged that overlapping regulations could further delay the decision.
The uncertainty extended beyond the men’s league. The Indian Women’s League (IWL), scheduled to begin on December 20, will continue without a major sponsor after an agreement between the AIFF and Capri Sports failed to be reached. Capri Sports was the sole bidder for the commercial rights to the top two divisions of the IWL for five years.
Capri Sports, the sports business arm of Capri Global, owns franchises across several leagues, including the UP Warriors in the Women’s Premier League, Sharjah Warriors in the ILT20, Rajasthan Warriors in the Ultimate Kho Kho and Bengal Warriors in the Pro Kabaddi League.
With the ISL still without a start date and key business decisions unresolved, clubs remain stuck in planning limbo. The consortium proposal may offer a possible way forward, but for now, Indian football continues to operate in uncertainty, with clarity still frustratingly out of reach.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
December 19, 2025
