Mohun Bagan Among Seven Clubs Denied AIFF License: What Happens Now?

ByTech Word News

Mohun Bagan Super Giant headline a worrying list of seven clubs whose AIFF Premier 1 license applications for the 2026-27 season have been rejected, casting fresh uncertainty over the future of several Indian Super League teams. A decision taken by the AIFF’s Club Licensing Committee-First Instance Body (CLC-FIB) has now temporarily rendered several top clubs ineligible to participate in national and AFC competitions unless the situation is resolved quickly.

While some clubs have managed to secure sanctioned licences, several major names in the ISL have not been granted permission by the AIFF.

Clubs granted licenses with sanctions were:

  • North East United FC
  • East Bengal FC
  • Jamshedpur FC
  • Mumbai City FC
  • Bengaluru FC
  • FC Goa
  • Punjab FC

Meanwhile, the clubs whose licenses have been refused are:

  • Mohun Bagan Super Giant
  • Kerala Blasters FC
  • Odisha FC
  • Chennaiyin FC
  • Mohammedan Sports Club
  • Inter Kashi
  • Delhi Sports Club

Several ISL clubs are already grappling with wider uncertainty over the league’s commercial future, ownership concerns, sponsorship pressures and operational planning for next season. The licensing blow now adds another administrative pain right in the middle of that chaos.

But if these issues are not resolved quickly, Indian football could soon be staring at another mess off the field just months before the start of the new season.

WHAT DOES THE AIFF CLUB LICENSE REFUSE MEAN?

The AIFF Indian Club Licensing System is not just paperwork.

It is essentially a league quality control system designed to ensure that clubs meet mandatory standards of finance, infrastructure, youth development, administration and sports operations before participating in professional competitions.

Each season, clubs must secure licenses to participate in the ISL, I-League and AFC tournaments.

So when a license is refused, it means that the club has failed to meet one or more of the mandatory criteria set out by AIFF and AFC regulations.

Technically, this currently makes these clubs ineligible to participate in the ISL and continental competitions for the 2026-27 season.

But importantly, it is not an immediate expulsion.

Clubs still have ways to avoid total disaster.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WITH MOHUN BAGAN AND THE OTHER CLUBS?

Despite the rejection, it’s not over for the seven clubs. AIFF regulations still leave several escape routes open before the 2026-2027 season officially begins.

Here’s what rejected clubs can do now:

  • File an appeal against the decision of the Club Licensing Committee
  • Submit additional documents or explanations to address compliance deficiencies
  • Request a special exception to participate in national competitions
  • Try to resolve infrastructural, financial or administrative issues within the time frame allowed
  • Remain temporarily ineligible for ISL and AFC competitions until clearance is granted

For Mohun Bagan in particular, the rejection carries even more weight due to the club’s recent problems with the AFC following their refusal to travel to Iran for an ACL 2 match last year, which already resulted in a hefty fine and a two-season continental ban.

And for clubs like Kerala Blasters, Odisha FC and Chennaiyin FC, the announcement will only add to fans’ concerns about where Indian club football is currently heading off the pitch.

– The end

Issued by:

Debodinna Chakraborty

Published on:

20 May 2026 21:14 IST