August 29, 2025

Get ready for some hot football drama! India’s top football league, the Indian Super League (ISL), is at a standstill, and this has set alarm bells ringing at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Why? Because the sudden suspension is causing huge problems—from unpaid player salaries to a shaky future for India’s clubs in big Asian tournaments. The AFC's general secretary, Datuk Seri Windsor John, has openly called the situation "deeply concerning." In a detailed letter to AIFF deputy secretary general M Satyanarayan, he asked for the real facts on what’s going wrong. He wants to know how talks with ISL’s marketing partner, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), are going, the Supreme Court’s timeline on the issue, and what is being done to bring back the league safely. "Such information is critical for the AFC to properly assess the current situation and determine the next steps," said Windsor John. AIFF asked for more time until the Supreme Court hearing this Thursday before giving answers. The core problem? A clash between AIFF and FSDL over renewing a big 15-year contract, called the Master Rights Agreement, which ends on December 8. FSDL, holding the marketing reins, has halted the league "until further clarity emerges on the contractual structure." Because of this freeze, Odisha FC, Bengaluru FC, and Chennaiyin FC couldn’t pay their players on time. Plus, six other clubs struggle to even start their pre-season training. What a mess! The AFC fears this uncertainty could hurt India's chances in the AFC Champions League Two – Asia’s second-level club competition. They want an answer: will Indian clubs qualify through the 2025-26 ISL season like before? Or will there be some alternate plan if the league stays paused? Datuk Seri Windsor John stressed, "The impasse represents a domestic crisis with significant implications at the continental level. We trust the AIFF will address it urgently, in line with FIFA and AFC standards of governance and scheduling, while ensuring the welfare and stability of the clubs, players and officials, and safeguarding the representation of Indian clubs in the AFC competitions." Indian football fans, brace yourselves! The coming days will be critical. Will the ISL roar back or stay silent? Only time will tell!

Read More at Timesofindia →

Tags: Indian super league, Afc, Aiff, Fsdl, Football suspension, Afc champions league,