Supreme Court Directs Justice L Nageswara Rao To Oversee AIFF Tender For New Commercial Partner

Last Updated:September 02, 2025, 19:35 IST

The Supreme Court named Justice L Nageswara Rao to oversee AIFF's new commercial partner tender, ensuring transparency for ISL.

Supreme Court of India (PTI)

The Supreme Court has appointed former judge Justice L Nageswara Rao to supervise the tender process for selecting a new commercial partner for the All India Football Federation (AIFF), paving the way for the country’s top-tier league.

A crisis emerged in India’s domestic football scene after Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the Indian Super League’s organisers and AIFF’s commercial partner, announced on July 11 that the 2025-26 season was “on hold". This was due to uncertainty over renewing the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) with the national federation, leading to at least three clubs pausing first-team operations or suspending player and staff salaries.

“… The AIFF shall also issue necessary tenders inviting bids for open, competitive and transparent process for selection of its commercial partner to conduct Indian Super League. For this purpose, we have requested and upon his agreement, appoint Justice L. Nageswara Rao, former Judge of this Court to ensure that the selection process enures in identifying a competent, reputed and an efficient firm as a commercial partner to conduct ISL, in line with global best practices," the order said.

Till When Will New Deal For AIFF’s Commercial Partner Be?

The current MRA, signed in 2010, will expire in December 2025, during the third month of the ISL season. The court also mentioned that Justice Rao could appoint one or two professionals to assist him in finalising AIFF’s commercial partner.

Senior counsels Ranjit Kumar, representing AIFF, and Neeraj Kishan Kaul, representing FSDL, assured the bench that both organisations would coordinate to ensure the football calendar starts on time and maintains competitive continuity. Both AIFF and FSDL have agreed to this process, with FSDL waiving its right of first negotiation to facilitate an open tender.

Furthermore, the Supreme Court reserved its verdict on adopting a new constitution for AIFF and approving the conduct of the ISL, clarifying that it would not delay the verdict until the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, is formally notified.

The draft constitution, prepared by Justice Rao under the court’s directions, proposed significant changes, including limiting a person to hold office for a maximum period of 12 years, with a maximum of two successive terms of four years each.

The SC bench emphasised that AIFF should not enter into long-term commercial agreements until a final judgment is delivered.

“To fill the legislative gap, this Court has monitored the management, sanction and conduct of national level football tournaments and leagues by the All India Football Federation (‘AIFF). In the process, assistance of a distinguished retired judge of this Court was taken to examine a draft constitution for AIFF, prepared after involving every stakeholder."

“Finally, after hearing all the parties, including the amici curiae on the final draft of the proposed constitution of AlFF we reserved the case for judgment. While reserving, we directed AIFF not to enter into any binding contracts till the judgment is pronounced," the order said.

(With inputs from PTI)

Ritayan Basu

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin...Read More

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin...

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First Published:

September 02, 2025, 19:33 IST

News sports Supreme Court Directs Justice L Nageswara Rao To Oversee AIFF Tender For New Commercial Partner

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