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Under the MRA, FSDL pays the AIFF Rs 50 crore annually. FSDL, in turn, gets the rights to broadcast, manage and commercialise Indian football, including the national team.
ISL organisers tell clubs 2025-26 edition will not start without clarity on MRA status. (Picture Credit: X)
Indian Super League (ISL) organisers have informed the clubs that the 2025-26 edition will not commence until there is clarity over the status of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) signed with the All India Football Federation (AIFF), placing the country’s top-tier competition in uncertainty.
Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), which operates the ISL, is the commercial partner of the AIFF, with whom the national federation signed a 15-year MRA in 2010.
Under the MRA, FSDL pays the AIFF Rs 50 crore annually. In return, FSDL acquires the rights to broadcast, manage, and commercialise Indian football, including the national team.
“FSDL has verbally informed the ISL club owners that the next edition will not start until there is clarity on the MRA,” a source privy to the development told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
“The MRA ends in December, and there is no clarity on whether it will be renewed or a new agreement will be signed.”
However, the AIFF stated that FSDL has not communicated anything about the fate of the ISL to the national federation.
“We have not received any communication from the FSDL regarding ISL,” AIFF Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan said when asked if the league will start on time.
In the last two seasons, the ISL began in September.
According to another source, FSDL is believed to favour creating a new holding company to operate the ISL, with participating clubs (60%), FSDL (26%), and AIFF (14%) as shareholders.
“There might be other arrangements for other properties like I-League, national teams, etc. But it is very sketchy as of now regarding what the FSDL and AIFF want,” the source said.
The matter has also become complex following the Supreme Court directive to the AIFF not to take any major decisions until the final decision on a pending case concerning the constitution of the national federation is given. On April 30, the SC had reserved its verdict.
In April, the AIFF formed an eight-member task force to look into MRA negotiations with the FSDL. Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia, who is also an AIFF executive committee member, had advised the administration to wait until the Supreme Court verdict, which is likely to come in July.
“If the SC directs a new election of the AIFF, then the MRA will have to be negotiated by the new office bearers, and that will take time,” a former official said.
“Still, there may be enough time for the 2025-26 to happen, maybe by squeezing the schedule or stretching the end date. That is the best-case scenario.”
2025-26 calendar issued last month did not mention ISL
The AIFF last month issued the competition calendar for the 2025-26 season, and there was no mention of the ISL in it. However, a source said the calendar was for events that come directly under the AIFF, and the ISL schedule is put up only after consulting the FSDL.
“There was nothing to interpret from the calendar. Firstly, it was issued last month, and secondly, it was meant for events conducted directly by the AIFF,” the source said.
“ISL is not directly conducted by the AIFF, and so the ISL dates were not there in the calendar. Moreover, the AIFF always consults the FSDL before announcing ISL dates. So, there is nothing in the calendar regarding the ISL.”
(With inputs from PTI)
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