The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is seeking the Supreme Court's guidance on how to proceed with the Indian Super League (ISL) after a failure to secure a commercial partner. The agreement with the current commercial partners, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), is set to expire in less than a month, on December 8, 2025.
The bidding process for a 15-year deal, overseen by retired Supreme Court judge L. Nageswara Rao, concluded last Friday with no submissions. Justice Rao is expected to submit his report to the court this week, after which the AIFF is likely to bring the matter before the Supreme Court.
The ISL season typically runs from September to April. The current uncertainty has led some clubs, including reigning champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant, to pause operations. A delayed start to the league could make it difficult to meet the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) guidelines for continental competition eligibility. The AFC mandates that each team play at least 24 matches in a season, including cup competitions, to be eligible for the Asian Champions League 2 and the Asian Challenge League.
The AIFF is expected to ask the Supreme Court for modifications to the existing constitutional framework governing the ISL. The federation is likely to seek relief from three key constitutional provisions that limit flexibility: the mandate for an open league structure with promotion and relegation, the stipulation that the ISL must be owned by the federation, and the requirement that the league be operated solely by AIFF. These provisions are seen as creating uncertainty for commercial investors and restricting private investment models.
The AIFF issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) on October 16, seeking a long-term commercial partner to manage broadcasting, sponsorship, and digital rights for the ISL. Despite initial interest from four entities, including FSDL, none submitted a final bid. Stakeholders have described the model designed by the AIFF and KPMG as "unworkable," citing the federation's complete operational control coupled with the partner bearing all financial risk. The proposed structure required a minimum annual payment of ₹37.5 crore or 5% of gross revenue, along with additional obligations such as prize money, event production, and VAR costs. Financial analysis suggested potential losses of up to ₹200 crore annually for a commercial partner. The AIFF's governing council plan, with its heavy skew towards federation control in decision-making, further discouraged bidders.
Earlier in the year, the Supreme Court directed the AIFF and FSDL to prioritize the smooth conduct of the 2025–26 domestic season, including the ISL and Super Cup. The court also ordered the AIFF to issue an open tender for selecting its commercial partner for the ISL and appointed Justice L. Nageswara Rao to oversee the process to ensure transparency. FSDL agreed to waive its contractual rights of first negotiation and matching and issued a no-objection certificate for the AIFF to proceed with an open tender.
