ISL uncertainty may derail Indian football; player salaries on hold, clubs on the edge
Panaji:
Late on Monday, players and technical staff at
Bengaluru FC
were taken aback when they received intimation from the club about an 'unfortunate and significant development concerning the upcoming
Indian Super League
(ISL)'.
The players, which includes Sunil Chhetri, the highest-capped player in Indian football history and its most recognizable face, read the contents of the communication with some concern as Bengaluru told them they are 'constrained to temporarily suspend all remuneration payments to all players and technical staff, with immediate effect.'
According to the club, the situation is 'unprecedented and (there's) no resolution in sight.'
Bengaluru are not the first club to suspend player salaries since Odisha FC had followed a similar path last week. They won't be the last either as the uncertainty over the season threatens to derail Indian football.
At the heart of this uncertainty is the impasse between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its marketing partners, FSDL, over the renewal of the 15-year Master Rights Agreement (MRA) that ends on Dec 8 this year.
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While AIFF has claimed their hands are tied due to an oral order from the Supreme Court that bars them from taking any decision on the renewal of the contract until the final order, the marketing partners have kept the season on hold 'until further clarity emerges on the contractual structure.
'
Should the ISL not happen, close to 400 top-tier footballers with hefty salaries will be directly affected.
If it were Odisha at first, and then Bengaluru, there are now fears that others will follow suit.
Kerala Blasters have already enforced salary cuts for staff and could soon start the awkward conversations surrounding player salaries. Significantly, half of the top-tier clubs -- Odisha, Bengaluru, Kerala Blasters, Chennaiyin FC, Hyderabad and Mumbai City -- have not yet started pre-season training. FC Goa were forced to train due to their AFC Champions League Two playoff clash against Al Seeb on August 13.
According to sources, most player contracts have a standard 'Force Majeure' clause for a 'cancelled season' which 'shall not be considered to be default.'
Some clubs have modified the clause for this season, specifically mentioning that 'in the event of the ISL, or any equivalent top-division competition, does not commence, the club has the right to suspend or terminate the agreement without financial penalty.
'
'This is a scary situation for Indian football and it's not just the players, coaches or staff that will get affected,' said a senior club official. 'If there is no league, the consequences would extend far beyond the pitch since hundreds are employed directly or indirectly by the clubs and the league.'
But just how close is everyone to finding a solution? Those in the know said it's not straightforward.
'First, you need the Supreme Court order (to move ahead), then AIFF and its marketing partners should agree terms. That too won't be easy because FSDL and AIFF are right now looking in different directions. Will AIFF agree to the new (ownership) structure? Will FSDL be willing to continue with the same arrangements? What about the promotion-relegation scenario?' another official asked.
Clubs will seek answers when they meet AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey on Thursday. Eight clubs had written a letter requesting for a meeting. Since then, at least two more clubs – Mumbai City and Chennaiyin – have shown willingness to join the group.
'The situation is something we never expected since the court order was expected earlier,' said AIFF deputy secretary general M. Satyanarayan, 'We hope to find a solution soon and complete the season with minimum 24 matches that are needed to be AFC-compliant. I am sure the decision of the clubs to keep player salaries on hold was not an easy one. We are meeting the clubs and will do what's best for Indian football. These are our clubs and the ISL is our biggest asset.
'
PRESENT TENSE, FUTURE UNCERTAIN
In the last 11 years, ISL and the clubs have invested over Rs 5000 crores into the ecosystem without breaking even.
Approx 400 players from top-tier teams likely to get affected as clubs get ready to cite Force Majeure clause where a 'cancelled season shall not be considered to be a breach of contract.'
With supply more than demand, players could be forced to renegotiate contracts and settle for much less.
Reserve teams, youth development, besides hundreds employed directly or indirectly by the league and clubs will also be affected.
Local economies and support systems will take a hit.
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