PARTH JINDAL, the founder of JSW Sports, which owns Indian Super League side Bengaluru FC, called on the players to make “sacrifices” in order to keep the unit running amid turbulence surrounding the ISL. Read that as an indication that all ISL clubs will be “requesting” their respective team players to accepting pay cuts for the upcoming season.
Jindal’s comments followed on from the announcement Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya made Tuesday that the nation’s top-flight league, which had been suspended in the absence of a commercial partner, would resume on 14th February with all 14 clubs playing a total of 91 home and away matches.
“Tremendous sacrifice from all clubs is being asked for to play the ISL in its current format. Repercussions if we don’t have a league are very worrying,” Jindal posted Wednesday on ‘X’.
“Truly hope the players understand the additional financial burden on the clubs and agree to also sacrifice as we are all in this together. We are in this for the love of football and to see our country play the beautiful game and be good at it.”
“@bengalurufc football has been a loss making proposition for all since I can remember – this year’s numbers without the players helping out will force many to shut shop for good,” he added in the tweet that was reposted by FC Goa CEO Ravi Puskur.
“There was lot of speculation regarding ISL but today (Tuesday) govt, football federation and 14 clubs, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal included had a meeting and we have decided that ISL will start February 14. All clubs will participate,” Mandaviya had announced.
Joining him at the long-awaited resolution table was the under-fire All India Football Federation president Kalyan Chaubey, who provided further details after the minister’s announcement.
“The 14 participating teams will compete in a single-leg round-robin format. Detailed fixtures will be released following further consultation with the clubs,” the AIFF said in a statement.
“In all, the AIFF will give ₹14 crore for ISL and about ₹3.2 crore for I League till we find a commercial partner,” Chaubey said.
Total Budgeted Expenditure for organising the 2025-26 ISL season
₹24.26 crore
Production & Transmission
₹9.77 Cr (40.3%)
Prize Money (Central + Individual)
₹5.82 Cr (24%)
Central Administration – Governance
₹2.40 Cr (9.9%)
Digital & Marketing
₹2.24 Cr (9.2%)
Match Officials
₹2.11 Cr (8.7%)
Integrity, Anti-Doping & Legal
₹1.45 Cr (6%)
With the AIFF committing ₹14 crore, the ₹10 crore+ shortfall in operating costs for running the league will perforce have to be collectively borne by the 14 clubs. This of course does not include the expenses each club will have to individually manage to field and run its team during the upcoming ISL season.
