ALL 14 CLUBS set to compete in the curtailed 2025–26 Indian Super League (ISL) season have jointly written to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, requesting a suspension of relegation for the current campaign and for the next three to five seasons. The clubs have urged the ministry to convey their position to the Supreme Court through the Solicitor General of India.
The ministry’s involvement follows directions from the Supreme Court, which intervened after the league’s start was delayed due to the absence of a confirmed commercial partner. The apex court asked the government to propose a solution that could be formally ratified, prompting the ministry to step in.
In their seven-page submission, addressed to the joint secretary, the clubs have described the ongoing season as a case of virtual force majeure owing to its truncated nature. They argue that enforcing relegation under such circumstances would compromise sporting integrity and damage investor confidence.
The letter notes that clubs did not receive equal preparation time or infrastructure support ahead of the season, citing factors beyond their control. It further contends that relegation should be paused in the medium term as well, given that the league’s revised structure represents a significant departure from previous seasons.
Referring to the ongoing structural transition, the clubs point out that the lack of assured commercial revenue has placed a heavier financial burden on owners. A temporary halt to relegation, they argue, would give stakeholders the necessary breathing space to reassess and recalibrate long-term investment strategies.
The Supreme Court-approved constitution of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) mandates promotion and relegation in India’s top-tier league, while also stipulating that the competition be owned and operated by the national governing body.
AIFF has since proposed a new governance model for the ISL, under which ownership of the league would be shared between the federation, participating clubs and commercial partners yet to be finalised. Until last season, the ISL was operated by its commercial partners under the aegis of AIFF.
In 2019, AIFF, the clubs and then commercial partner Football Sports Development Limited had accepted an Asian Football Confederation roadmap that envisaged the introduction of relegation from the 2024–25 season. The ISL has already opened its doors to promotion, with I-League champions gaining entry to the top tier from the 2023–24 season onwards.
In addition to the relegation freeze, the clubs have requested the ministry’s support in reducing infrastructure-related costs over the next three years. They have also asked the government to advise AIFF to rationalise club licensing requirements for the ongoing season.
