What next for ISL? FSDL proposes plan for future of Indian Super League to AIFF

The Hindu

3 hours ago

The Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) has presented a potential plan for organising India's premier division—the Indian Super League (ISL)—to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) even as their Master Rights Agreement (MRA) draws to an end this year.
The MRA, signed in 2010 between the AIFF and FSDL (the body that runs the ISL), mandated that the latter would provide INR 50 crore annually to the federation in exchange for broadcast and management rights for Indian football, including the national teams.
However, with the agreement ending in December 2025 and no renewal confirmed, the future of ISL and commercialisation of the national teams' coverage remain uncertain.
With the Supreme Court of India deciding on the AIFF constitution on July 18, the negotiations on the league's future would be the next course of action. This is where the FSDL has come up with a potential plan for the league going forward.
In a draft sent to the AIFF, which Sportstar has seen, it has suggested the setting up of a new holding company, named 'ISL NewCo JV', where the clubs will be the majority shareholders. This company will 'govern, operate, commercialise, and fund the ISL'.
What will the new company do?
'ISL NewCo JV' will fund and manage all central costs of the league and additionally monetise all central assets and revenue streams for the league and the national teams.
The equity of the company will be as follows: AIFF (14 per cent), ISL Participating Clubs (60 per cent, equal across all clubs) and FSDL (26 per cent). The FSDL will retain veto rights with respect to 'certain key matters.'
However, one of the most significant mandates in the proposal is a 10-year moratorium on Promotion/Relegation from ISL to lower tiers.
Rules of promotion/relegation in the draft
At least a 10-year moratorium on Promotion/Relegation from ISL to lower tiers, and not until complete alignment of lower tiers as per the new roadmap, pre-agreed between parties.
No club to get promoted to ISL unless it (i) meets strict financial and licensing criteria and (ii) has been in existence for at least five years under the same ownership that meets fitness test.
'ISL shall be limited to the current number of teams for at least five years,' the draft further mentions, adding, 'No Expansion through Promotion from Lower Tiers, unless explicitly voted for by all stakeholders.'
The draft places the AIFF in a tight spot. Though promotion and relegation are not mandatory terms for a top-flight league in Asia, the Asian Football Confederation strongly recommends its implementation.
The Federation's Executive Committee had agreed to implement the promotion-relegation model from the 2024-25 season, according to recommendations from the AFC. Accordingly, Punjab FC and Mohammedan Sporting became the first two teams to be promoted to the ISL.
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However, accepting the draft would force the AIFF to abandon this pathway, going against its prior commitment to the AFC.
Moreover, the current I-League champion, which could either be Churchill Brothers or Inter Kashi, depending on the Court of Arbitration of Sport's judgement, could also miss out on a promotional spot.
What happens to the current agreement?
The draft proposes that the current MRA, which runs down in December, will be declared defunct. Instead, the AIFF, which was getting INR 50 crore annually as per the previous deal, will now fund losses or collect dividends in proportion to their equity, also earning revenue from the future expansion of the league.
The AIFF will retain complete revenue from non-ISL competitions and non-national team competitions.
Moreover, the Federation will have to recognise that the new company— ISL NewCo JV —is the rights holder for India's top national league and national team matches.
The draft further proposes that the structure will comply with the AIFF's new draft Constitution, which requires the body to play a direct role in the governance of the top national leagues.'
The draft has cited examples from top leagues in Asia and around the world, such as the Premier League (England), La Liga (Spain), and J-League (Japan), to show how independent private bodies have run successful domestic leagues.