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  4. Inside the ISL clubs’ proposal to restart season: Owning the league, paying AIFF Rs 10 crore

It is likely that the clubs’ plan will be discussed on Saturday during the AIFF’s Annual General Meeting on Saturday.

Written by Mihir Vasavda December 19, 2025 11:23 PM IST

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Since the adoption of the Supreme Court mandated Constitution, the AIFF has struggled to find bidders for the ISLSince the adoption of the Supreme Court mandated Constitution, the AIFF has struggled to find bidders for the ISL

An annual grant of Rs 10 crore to the apex body; the right to operate and manage the top-tier league; holding permanent majority shareholding; and conducting the league within 45 days of a formal handover of rights. The Indian Super League clubs on Friday came up with a formal proposal to restructure the country’s top division, recommending a club-owned model with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) retaining its role as a regulator.

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The proposal comes at a time when India’s domestic football pyramid has collapsed following the expiry of an agreement between the AIFF and Football Sports Development Limited, a Reliance Industries subsidiary. When the AIFF floated tenders to find new commercial partners, there were no takers. It is likely that the clubs’ plan will be discussed on Saturday during the AIFF’s Annual General Meeting on Saturday.

However, it could face roadblocks after some members of the AIFF’s executive committee expressed reservations. According to PTI, committee member Avijit Paul said the proposal was ‘demeaning’, ‘unacceptable’ and ‘undermined the authority’ of AIFF.

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Given that the issue — which is linked directly to the AIFF’s constitution — is sub-judice in the Supreme Court, the clubs have also sought the Sports Ministry’s intervention. “…we write to formally place before the All India Football Federation (AIFF), and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (Ministry), a detailed proposal for restructuring the ownership, governance, and operational framework of India’s top-tier professional football league,” the clubs said in a joint to the Sports Ministry and AIFF.

What the clubs propose:

– Rights to ‘operate, manage, and commercially exploit India’s top-tier professional football league

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– Participating clubs hold a permanent majority shareholding in the ‘League Company’. AIFF shall hold one special share, safeguarding sporting integrity, regulatory authority, and statutory compliance

– Flexibility to induct a commercial or strategic partner at the league level, provided always that the clubs, individually and collectively, retain majority ownership and voting control

– Full responsibility for day-to-day operations, commercial exploitation of media and sponsorship rights

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– No league rights fee be paid to AIFF for the 2025-26 season, owing to transitional circumstances and the need to ensure uninterrupted continuity of the competition

– An annual grant to the AIFF of Rs 10 crore — to be paid collectively by the clubs irrespective of whether a commercial partner is inducted — from the 2026-27 season onwards

– Commencing the top-division league within 45 days of a formal handover of rights.

Over the course of a 18-year-long career, Mihir Vasavda has covered 2010 FIFA World Cup; the London 2012, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games; Asian Games in 2014 and 2022; Commonwealth Games in 2010 and 2018; Hockey World Cups in 2018 and 2023 and the 2023 ODI Cricket World Cup. ... Read More

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