The future of the 2025–26 Indian Super League (ISL) season remains uncertain as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has pointed to an observation made by the Supreme Court of India as the reason behind the delay in finalising the renewal of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) with Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL).
In an official statement issued on Saturday, the AIFF clarified the timeline of events that led to the impasse, stating that the process to renew the MRA had begun well in advance.
“As per the Master Rights Agreement, the All India Football Federation had, in a timely manner, first initiated the process of requesting negotiations on the terms of a potential renewal with FSDL on November 21, 2024,” the AIFF noted.
Subsequent meetings between senior representatives of AIFF and FSDL took place on February 5 in New Delhi and March 5 in Mumbai. During the Mumbai meeting, FSDL submitted a formal proposal, which was followed by a counter-proposal from AIFF on April 21, 2025.
However, things took a turn on April 26 when, during a court hearing, the Hon’ble Supreme Court made an observation advising that the MRA should not be renewed until further orders. Based on legal counsel, AIFF put all discussions regarding the renewal on hold.
“Consequently, based on legal advice… renewal discussions have been in abeyance pending further directions from the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India,” AIFF added.
In parallel, FSDL has formally informed participating ISL clubs of the suspension of planning activities for the upcoming season. In a letter, FSDL said it is not in a position to organise or commercialise the 2025–26 ISL season without a valid agreement in place.
“Given this situation, we regret to inform you that we are currently not in a position to proceed with the 2025–26 ISL season and are placing it on hold until further clarity emerges on the contractual structure beyond the end of the current MRA term,” the letter stated.
The existing MRA is set to expire on December 8, 2025 — about one-third into a typical ISL season that runs from September to April. FSDL claimed that AIFF has not provided a definitive response to the renewal proposal, leaving them unable to commit to the season’s structure.
Meanwhile, the AIFF has acknowledged the disruption and its broader impact on clubs, players, officials, and fans. The federation reaffirmed its commitment to Indian football but stressed its obligation to adhere to the law.
“The AIFF respects the law of the land and the direction of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India… and will take all possible steps to ensure the continuity of the ISL in the best interests of Indian football,” the statement added.
The commercial agreement between the two bodies traces back to December 2010, when IMG Reliance — a joint venture between IMG Worldwide and Reliance Industries — acquired exclusive rights to develop and market Indian football for 15 years.
Under that agreement, AIFF granted IMG Reliance the commercial rights with the aim of transforming and promoting football in the country — from grassroots efforts to the professional circuit.
Now, as the ISL awaits clarity on its next season, Indian football stands at a critical juncture — caught between legal directives and the urgent need to maintain continuity for the sport’s flagship league.
