After ending a 22-year drought, East Bengal has become the ISL champion. Within 24 hours, questions have started arising in the football community about whether the ISL will take place next season. In this situation, multiple ISL clubs, including Mohun Bagan, have jointly issued a strong message to the federation. Except for East Bengal, Mohammedan Sporting, and Jamshedpur FC, the other clubs stated in a joint statement that if the current situation does not change, they will be forced to reconsider their participation in the league after the current season.
The clubs’ statement said, ‘The uncertainty surrounding Indian football is causing us concern. In this situation, we are compelled to reassess our commitment to the league after the current season.’ The clubs have been investing for a long time despite various financial and organizational issues. According to them, ‘There is no structural certainty, no commercial transparency, and a lack of long-term planning. It is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the necessary financial and operational commitment to compete properly.’
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The statement further said, ‘Indian football has the potential to be much bigger than its current state. Therefore, those who built the league, invested money, promoted it, and ran it all this time are now facing uncertainty about that very structure. This is truly disappointing.’ Regarding the kind of league the clubs want in the future, they said, ‘A financially transparent and stable league is very important for the future of Indian football. That is why the clubs have proposed a new plan, which they believe is realistic and constructive. It should be given equal consideration as other proposals from the AIFF.’
The clubs appealed to the federation, ‘Let those who are running the league or providing funds understand their issues and create a permanent structure through discussions with everyone.’ The Indian Football Federation has called a Special General Body meeting on May 23 to decide on the constitution of the country’s football body and regarding Genius Sports as a commercial partner. Just before that, the clubs’ strong message has effectively put pressure on the AIFF. Notably, the clubs had previously written a letter stating that if a contract with Genius Sports as a commercial partner is signed, they could face financial losses. In the current situation, there is a risk of further complications regarding the selection of a commercial partner. Overall, the clubs’ statement has raised new questions about the future of Indian football. All eyes are now on what steps the federation takes.
