
Indian Football: ISL Clubs Suspend Operations, Who's To Blame? First Sports With Rupha Ramani
India is dreaming big in sports - from aiming to be contenders in every discipline to eyeing the Olympics. Yet, while many sports are surging ahead, Indian football is stuck in reverse. The Indian Super League (ISL), once a trailblazer adopting the IPL franchise model, is now facing a crisis with top clubs like Bengaluru FC and Chennaiyin FC suspending operations amid legal battles and governance failures. The AIFF's inability to resolve the dispute with league organisers has pushed Indian football to the brink. Rupha Ramani breaks down what's going wrong, how this impacts players and fans, and why Indian football desperately needs accountability, not empty promises.
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The Hindu
34 minutes ago
- The Hindu
ISL clubs and AIFF to approach Supreme Court regarding Indian Super League's future
Indian Super League (ISL) clubs and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) will approach the Supreme Court next week for a verdict on the future of India's top flight. The ISL has been on hold after Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) and AIFF could not agree upon a Masters Right Agreement (MRA). 'A discussion was held between the legal representatives of the All India Football Federation and the Indian Super League clubs on Thursday. It has been agreed by all parties that the concerns of the ISL clubs pertaining to the delay in the commencement of the 2025-26 ISL season, and the hardship being felt by the players and other stakeholders will be conveyed to the Supreme Court next week, for its kind consideration,' the AIFF said in a statement. Chennaiyin FC and Bengaluru FC are among top clubs to have temporarily suspended their first-team operations amid the uncertainty. Officials from AIFF, ISL and FSDL met last week and will hold further talks next week over the resumption of the ISL, minutes released by the AIFF on Thursday revealed.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Olympic medallist, sports medicine pioneer Vece Paes passes away at 80
Kolkata: Vece Paes, who passed away early on Thursday, was a rare elite sportsperson who leaves behind his mark also as a highly respected sports medicine specialist. Paes, father of tennis great Leander, had been under treatment at a city hospital since Tuesday owing to complications arising out of long-standing Parkinson's disease and age related issues. He was 80. As per a statement from the hospital, Paes was admitted "with multiorgan dysfunction due to lower respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract infections". Paes was a medical practitioner at this hospital in the 1960s. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata | Gold Rates Today in Kolkata | Silver Rates Today in Kolkata Bengal Hockey Association officials informed that the funeral would be held on Monday, after his brother and daughters arrive from the US. The Goa-born Paes earned his medical degree at the Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College in Kolkata, which subsequently became his home. The hockey midfielder achieved the high point of his career when he earned an Olympic bronze at the 1972 Munich Games as a member of the Indian team. The previous year, he was part of the team that won bronze in the Barcelona World Cup. Leander has often said that it was this bronze that motivated him to reach the heights in tennis. The senior Paes, in fact, had a significant role to play in his son's career. He relived the 1972 Olympic moment in 1996 when Leander won a bronze at the Atlanta Games. Incidentally, Paes' former wife and Leander's mother Jennifer is a former captain of the national basketball team. After he quit the game, Vece Paes became a full-time sports medicine specialist. Various organisations like the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the Asian Cricket Council, the All India Football Federation and the Indian Olympic Association had involved him as a sports medicine consultant. He had also travelled with the Indian Davis Cup team as the doctor. Apart from that, he had been associated with various clubs and sports bodies from time to time, including East Bengal where he had assisted Bhaichung Bhutia among others. His work towards anti-doping awareness and education has been lauded. Apart from hockey, Paes was passionate about rugby and was also the president of the Indian Rugby Football Union from 1996 to 2002. He also played cricket and football at the divisional level. A multi-faceted personality, Paes leaves behind a legacy in Indian sport that will be forever remembered. Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee was among the first to send condolences on his death. "Saddened by the demise of Dr Vece Paes, member of the bronze medal winning team at the 1972 Olympic Games. His contribution to hockey and sports medicine will be remembered," she posted on X. Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey, former hockey players Ajit Pal Singh, BP Govinda, Viren Rasquinha, tennis ace Sania Mirza were among those who paid their tributes. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Independence Day wishes , messages , and quotes !


India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
Kho Kho World Cup Winners To Join PM Narendra Modi In Independence Day Celebrations At Red Fort
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