India’s domestic football is facing one of its worst crises in recent years, with the start of the 2025–26 Indian Super League (ISL) indefinitely suspended due to a dispute over rights and governance.
The deadlock has left thousands of players and staff without clarity on their future, while some clubs have already suspended salaries.
The global footballers’ union FIFPRO has urged immediate intervention, warning that the “escalating uncertainty” is severely affecting players’ “livelihoods, careers, and wellbeing.”
The union condemned recent actions by clubs, describing the unilateral suspension of contracts as a “direct breach of labor rights” that is causing significant distress, according to dw.com
The ISL season was scheduled to begin in September, but operations came to a halt in July after the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) failed to reach agreement on a new rights deal.
The current contract expires in December, and until terms for a new Master Rights Agreement are finalized, the league cannot move forward.
The dispute has already had immediate consequences. Clubs such as Odisha FC, Chennaiyin FC, and Bengaluru FC have either frozen salaries or paused operations altogether.
Meanwhile, reigning champions Mohun Bagan refused to release players for international duty, accusing the AIFF of negligence.
Beyond the league, the crisis has also destabilized India’s national football program. Head coach Manolo Marquez resigned in July after a string of poor results, leaving the team at its lowest FIFA ranking in nearly a decade.
Earlier this month, former midfielder Khalid Jamil was appointed as head coach, but his efforts to rebuild will be hampered without a functioning domestic league.
FIFPRO has called on the AIFF, FSDL, and club owners to agree on a season roadmap and provide immediate clarity for players, while also raising the issue with FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
With India’s Supreme Court still reviewing the AIFF’s governance structure, the standoff threatens not only the ISL’s future but also the credibility of Indian football at large.
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