The Kalyan Chaubey-helmed All India Football Federation continues to fall short in regards to its governance of the Beautiful Game in the country. The latest controversy confronting the AIFF is its failure to meet the October 15 deadline “to conduct an open, competitive and transparent tender (process) for the selection of a commercial partner” to organise the Indian Super League.
With the deadline missed and radio silence from the AIFF on the matter, ten ISL clubs have demanded immediate clarity on the matter, terming the delay in the tender process a “breach of trust”.
The 10 clubs – Chennaiyin FC, Punjab FC, Hyderabad FC, Bengaluru FC, FC Goa, NorthEast United, Kerala Blasters, Odisha FC, Jamshedpur FC and Mumbai City FC – slammed the AIFF for its lack of accountability and transparency.
“Following the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, and the subsequent joint submission made by the AIFF and FSDL (Football Sports Development Limited), it was clearly stated that an open and transparent tender process would be initiated and completed by 15th October 2025 to appoint a new commercial partner for the league,” the clubs stated in a letter to AIFF president Chaubey and the federation’s executive committee, which was accessed by PTI.
“It is very evident that we are yet to even begin the process, let alone complete it. The lack of communication from the AIFF has been deeply disappointing, and the silence surrounding this matter has caused further erosion of confidence among clubs and other stakeholders,” the letter further reads.
It bears noting that three Kolkata clubs – Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting – have not signed the letter.
It was on August 28, during a hearing relating to AIFF’s constitution which was then pending, that the AIFF and ISL organisers FSDL had submitted a “consensual resolution” to the Supreme Court, with the national federation agreeing “to conduct an open, competitive and transparent tender (process) for the selection of a commercial partner” to organise the top-tier league.
In that resolution, the AIFF had also agreed to complete the process by October 15, so that new league season can thereafter commence in December.
The fact that said process has not even begun, let alone been completed, is just the latest demerit on the manner in which the AIFF is currently being administered.
