At the time of writing, East Bengal have the best home record in the ISL this season. (Image: AIFF) New Delhi: The ongoing Indian Super League (ISL) season has entered its ninth matchday with Mohun Bagan Super Giant leading the table. Hot on their heels are Mumbai City FC, FC Goa, East Bengal FC, Bengaluru FC and Jamshedpur FC. At the other end, Mohammedan Sporting are in prime position for relegation. But the league table only tells half the story.Mohammedan Sporting have played eight matches so far and have one point to their account – a draw against Odisha FC on April 17. Of the eight matches, only two have been played at home – against FC Goa (0-2 on 20 February) and Bengaluru FC (1-2 on 7 March). According to the current schedule of matches, they would play only three home matches until the end of the season.
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ISL commercial rights: AIFF gets two different offersAlthough it goes without saying, home advantage matters. Just ask two other Bengal clubs. Of Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s nine games and 20 points, five have been at home, giving them 12 points. East Bengal have played seven home matches out of a total of eight, picking up 12 points out of a total of 15 in the process.East Bengal’s upcoming ‘home’ match against Odisha FC will be played in Goa due to the West Bengal elections. They will return to home base on May 11 to face Punjab FC. A total of nine of East Bengal’s 12 scheduled matches would be played at home.Inequality is not limited to ISL. Rajasthan United, who finished third in the Indian Football League Stage 1 and boasted the best home record, will be denied to carry such momentum into the Championship. In compliance with the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) directive on mandatory floodlights, RUFC will instead play their home matches more than 500 kilometers away at the Namdhari facility in Ludhiana.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant are on top of the ISL table. (AIFF)
After returning to the ISL, Odisha FC also underwent a change in their home venue. Their upcoming ‘home’ matches against Bengaluru FC (May 4) and Punjab FC (May 16) will be played in Goa.Varanasi-based Inter Kashi have played three “home” matches in Kolkata while their own stadium is being built; this number will increase to four by the end. Mohali-based Punjab FC played their home matches in New Delhi.Amidst these inequalities, the consequences of a bad – or strong – season apply. The team that is not doing well in the ISL will be relegated to the IFL and the team that is doing well in the IFL will be promoted. Relegated teams will be affected by decreased revenue, business opportunities, broadcast coverage, among others. Meanwhile, the team that wins the title will get higher prize money, play continental football, be able to attract more talent, etc.However, force majeure remains a secretive topic in the AIFF corridors. The current constitution of the AIFF, ratified by the Supreme Court, mandates promotion and relegation in India’s top division. It also brings the ISL into line with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) statutes.
Bottom of the ISL table, Mohammedan Sporting have played just two home games this season. (AIFF)
In 2019, the AIFF, the clubs and then commercial partner Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) accepted the AFC’s proposal for relegation starting from the 2024–25 season. This promise will be kept from this season.In January, all 14 ISL clubs wrote to the Ministry of Sports asking to be removed from relegation for the season and three to five seasons after. They requested that the 2025–26 season be considered a “virtual force majeure”. Since then, there has been no progress on the matter. Decisions by FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in similar cases in the past may not help ISL clubs get rid of the obligation to pay wages. However, the fact that this season has not been equal for all teams cannot be ignored. However, the fact that promotion and relegation will happen across India’s top two divisions is a grave injustice after what AIFF chief Kalyan Chaubey himself described as a “crisis”.
