Punjab Newsline, Sports :
Court case and agreement dispute halted the league; government, AIFF and 14 teams reach consensus to restart tournament
Indian football fans have received a major boost as the Indian Super League (ISL) is set to resume from February 14. Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya made the official announcement, stating that the league had been delayed for nearly nine months due to an ongoing court case and administrative issues. However, after extensive discussions among all stakeholders, a decision has now been taken to restart the tournament.
Addressing the issue, Mandaviya said that the ISL could not begin earlier because the matter was sub judice, which created uncertainty around the league’s operations. He added that the government, along with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and representatives of all 14 participating teams, held detailed consultations and collectively agreed to resume the league. The Sports Minister emphasized that for the growth of sports, it is essential for players to continue playing regularly, and prolonged disruptions harm both athletes and the sport as a whole.
The delay in the ISL was primarily caused by the expiration of the Master Rights Agreement between AIFF and Reliance Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) in December last year. Following the end of this agreement, the new season of the ISL could not commence as scheduled. Although discussions were held between AIFF and FSDL to extend the agreement, the talks failed to yield a solution, resulting in a stalemate.
Due to the unresolved agreement, FSDL did not allow the tournament to proceed. In response, AIFF floated a tender to sell the commercial rights of the league. However, the tender process did not attract interest from any party. Companies reportedly felt that the base price set by AIFF for the commercial rights was too high, making the deal commercially unviable. This further complicated the situation and kept the league in limbo for several months.
The prolonged uncertainty affected clubs, players, support staff and fans, with footballers missing out on competitive match exposure. Mandaviya reiterated that such disruptions are detrimental to the development of the sport and assured that the government is committed to creating a stable and supportive ecosystem for Indian football.
With all stakeholders now on board, the restart of the ISL from February 14 is expected to inject fresh energy into Indian football. The league’s return will not only provide players with much-needed game time but also revive fan interest and strengthen the domestic football structure. The resumption of ISL is being seen as a crucial step towards ensuring continuity and long-term growth of football in the country.