ISL Clubs Propose Major Restructuring of India’s Top Football League
New Delhi: Indian Super League clubs have formally proposed a sweeping restructuring of India’s top-tier professional football league, seeking perpetual operational and commercial rights under a club-owned league model. The proposal was submitted to the All India Football Federation and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on Friday, the final day of the deadline set for presenting a consortium plan ahead of the 2025–26 season.
Under the proposal, a dedicated league company would be created, with participating clubs holding permanent majority ownership. The AIFF would retain a regulatory role through a special share and board representation, ensuring sporting integrity and statutory compliance while stepping away from commercial and operational responsibilities.
The clubs suggested that AIFF’s role be limited to governance functions such as competition regulations, licensing, refereeing, disciplinary oversight and coordination with national team schedules. Operational control, commercial exploitation, financial management and broadcast standards would be handled by the league company.
As a transitional measure, the clubs proposed that no league rights fee be paid to AIFF for the 2025–26 season. From 2026–27 onwards, an annual grant of ₹10 crore could be provided to support grassroots development, technical programmes and federation administration.
The proposal comes amid governance uncertainty in Indian football and ongoing legal proceedings related to the AIFF constitution.
Our Final Thoughts
The ISL clubs’ proposal marks a potentially transformative moment for Indian football. By separating commercial operations from regulatory oversight, the plan aims to improve financial sustainability and align with global league models. However, its success will depend on legal clarity, AIFF cooperation and Supreme Court approval. If implemented carefully, the restructuring could provide much-needed stability and long-term direction for India’s professional football ecosystem.