The All India Football Federation and its commercial partner, Reliance-controlled Football Sports Development Limited, look to have finally arrived at a “consensual resolution” on the way forward for the game in the country.
The operative part of the agreement that has been reached is that FSDL will “leave the field” as it were, agreeing to a “transparent tender” process for the selection of a new commercial partner for the AIFF to conduct the Indian Super League in December, as per the proposal submitted to the Supreme Court on Thursday.
SC to announce interim arrangement for ISL on Monday
The apex court, on its part, said that it will go an “extra mile” to ensure the best for Indian football as it agreed to pronounce next week an interim arrangement for conduct of the ISL and finalise the constitution for the AIFF.
The AIFF and FSDL told the top court that they have come to a “consensual resolution” in the larger public interest and for the promotion of the game in India.
“The AIFF has agreed that: It will conduct an open, competitive and transparent tender (or equivalent process) for selection of a commercial partner to conduct the ISL in line with global best practices,” the resolution submitted before the court, and accessed by CNBCTV18 (also Reliance-controlled), stated.
The resolution further reads: “Such process will be conducted in conformity with the National Sports Development Code 2011, the National Sports Governance Act 2025, the AIFF Constitution, and applicable FIFA/Asian Football Confederation (AFC) regulations.
“The process may be managed by an independent professional firm of repute, such as one of the ‘Big Four’ or an entity of equivalent standing.”
The AIFF and the FSDL agreed that the process will be concluded by October 15, thereby providing certainty to clubs, broadcasters, sponsors and other stakeholders.
On the matter of the October 15 deadline for process conclusion, it is pertinent to note that FIFA has already set a deadline of 30 October for the AIFF to secure a final verdict from the Supreme Court on its revised constitution, which should align with the mandatory provisions of the FIFA and AFC Statutes and regulations. AIFF is also required to ratify the constitution at its next AIFF general body meeting.
If all goes according to the timelines laid down, and subject to the consent of the AFC, the ISL season can thereafter commence in December.
FSDL to issue NOC to AIFF for commercial rights tender
FSDL is the current commercial partner of the AIFF under a 15-year Master Rights Agreement (MRA) signed in 2010. Under the MRA, the FSDL has been organising the ISL since 2014. The non-renewal of the MRA, which expires on December 8, led to the FSDL putting the ISL on hold in a decision taken on June 11. That forced at least three ISL clubs to suspend operations of their first teams or delay salaries, and prompted 11 ISL clubs to warn of an “existential crisis” and “possibility of shutting down entirely”.
In the resolution submitted to the SC on Thursday, FSDL has agreed to: “Waive its contractual Right of First Negotiation and Right to Match under the MRA dated 08 December 2010.” It will also “Issue a No Objection Certificate to AIFF for the conduct of an open, competitive and transparent tender (or equivalent process).” FSDL also confirmed that it shall not object to the exercise of rights in relation to the ISL by any new rights holder (if any) during the subsistence of the MRA.
Under the existing MRA, the FSDL pays Rs 50 crore annually, and it confirmed that it has duly discharged the July–September quarterly rights fee of Rs 12.5 crore on August 18. FSDL also agreed to advance the final tranche of the rights fee of Rs 12.5 crore (October–December 2025), if required by AIFF. Both parties submitted that “this collaborative framework represents a significant step forward in the evolution of Indian football as it ensures that no disruption is caused to the footballing ecosystem, that all stakeholders are given clarity, and that the governance of the sport proceeds in conformity with national and international norms.”
Season to kick off with Super Cup
To ensure the timely commencement of the football calendar in the country and to maintain competitive continuity, the AIFF and the FSDL agreed that the 2025–26 season may begin with the Super Cup or another domestic competition directly under the control of the national federation, after an adequate pre-season period.
“The Super Cup, being a domestic tournament open to clubs across multiple tiers, ensures that the players and clubs remain competitively engaged pending the commencement of the league season,” the resolution said. The idea of holding the Super Cup as the season opener to give competitive matches to the players was first mooted in a meeting between the AIFF and 13 ISL clubs in Delhi on August 7.
