New Delhi: The Indian Super League (ISL) clubs and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) failed to reach an agreement on the club-led model proposed by 13 of the 14 clubs. East Bengal, the ISL champions, are the only club that didn’t co-sign the proposal. The meeting was held in Kolkata with club executives and AIFF administrators attending either in person or virtually.In a social media post, the clubs said, “With deep concern and disappointment, the clubs of the Indian Super League wish to state that, given the continued uncertainty surrounding professional football in India, we are now compelled toreview the extent of our commitment to the league beyond the current season.” “Our clubs have consistently invested in Indian football, often in difficult and uncertain circumstances, and remain deeply committed to its future. However, the continued absence of structural certainty, commercial clarity and long-term visibility has made it increasingly difficult to justify the financial and operational commitments required to compete sustainably.“Indian football has the foundation to be far greater than it is today. It is therefore disappointing that those who have built, funded, promoted and sustained the league continue to face uncertainty over the very structure within which they are expected to operate.ALSO READ: ‘We’re also trying to provide for our families’ – Sandesh Jhingan“At the heart of Indian football’s future must be a financially sustainable league. The clubs have proposed an alternative modelwhich we believe is credible, constructive and worthy of being evaluated on merit, alongside any other proposal before the AIFF.“We urge the AIFF to acknowledge the realities faced by those funding and operating the league, and work collaboratively towards a framework that is sustainable, inclusive and built with all stakeholders in mind,” continued the social media post.The clubs have already said that they’re staring at shutting down if the economic reality of the league doesn’t change soon.(to be updated…)
