A MAJOR SHIFT could be on the horizon in Indian football after Indian Super League (ISL) clubs formally proposed a two-year club-led pilot model under which the clubs would operate the country’s top-tier football competition while paying the All India Football Federation (AIFF) ₹15 crore annually for the league’s commercial rights, a report in The Times of India said.
The proposal comes amid continuing uncertainty surrounding the future governance and commercial structure of the ISL following the expiry of the long-standing commercial arrangement between the AIFF and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the Reliance-backed entity that operated the league for more than a decade.
According to details emerging from meetings between clubs and the AIFF, the proposal includes a two-season pilot period in which ISL clubs collectively oversee league operations; a guaranteed payment of ₹15 crore per season to the AIFF for commercial rights; greater club involvement in governance, scheduling, commercial partnerships, and revenue generation; a rejection by clubs of the proposed ₹1 crore participation/entry fee structure.
The latest offer reportedly exceeds previous revenue expectations for the AIFF and is part of a broader attempt by clubs to secure a more direct role in shaping the future of the competition.
Indian football has been navigating a period of instability since the expiration of the Master Rights Agreement that previously gave FSDL operational control of the ISL. The uncertainty led to delays in planning, concerns over league scheduling, and questions about the long-term commercial direction of India’s premier football competition.
The AIFF had explored alternative commercial arrangements and received a significant proposal from sports technology company Genius Sports reportedly worth approximately ₹2,129 crore over 15–20 years, but discussions over revenue-sharing and governance structures prevented immediate approval. In May, ISL clubs had already submitted a separate proposal advocating a club-led operating model in collaboration with the AIFF and Genius Sports, signaling a growing desire among club owners to move toward a structure similar to major European leagues where clubs have a larger role in league management.
