Indian Soccer League Set to Kick Off on February 14 After Uncertainty
Indian Soccer League Resumes
After a prolonged period of uncertainty, Indian football is gearing up for a revival. Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, alongside All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey, announced that the Indian Soccer League (ISL) is scheduled to commence on February 14.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Mandaviya stated, “We have engaged with representatives from 14 clubs and have reached a consensus that the ISL will kick off on February 14. The key takeaway is that players will return to the field, which is excellent news for both them and their supporters.”
This announcement followed discussions involving club representatives, AIFF assistant secretary M. Satyanarayan, and joint secretary Kunal, who met twice to discuss the initiation of football leagues in India. The discussions revolved around a new proposal from the AIFF, which required clubs to share a budget of Rs 26 crore for hosting the ISL in a 60:40 ratio with the federation. Only three clubs—Inter Kashi, North East United, and Jamshedpur FC, owned by TATA—expressed their willingness to participate in the league. Other clubs, including Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, and Bengaluru FC, requested additional time to secure approval from their owners.
The ministry granted them an hour to finalize their decisions, as the AIFF was prepared to proceed with a reduced number of teams. Upon reconvening, all clubs except Chennai FC, Odisha FC, and FC Goa agreed to participate. Currently, Odisha FC has yet to confirm their involvement, but they are expected to do so soon.
Concerns arose that some clubs might attempt to delay the league's restart to invoke a force majeure clause in player contracts, thereby avoiding payment. However, once Mandaviya joined the meeting, consensus was reached to move forward with the league.
A source revealed that a few clubs were hesitant to collaborate with both the AIFF and the ministry. “It’s true that some were reluctant to participate, likely due to a lack of trust in Kalyan Chaubey. They felt compelled to agree in the minister's presence,” the source noted.
The ISL is set to feature 91 matches played on a home-and-away basis, while the I-League will consist of 11 teams competing in 55 matches. “We plan to merge I-League 2 and I-League 3 into a single league comprising 40 teams. The AIFF will fully finance the Indian Women’s League,” Chaubey stated.
Interestingly, clubs have the option to pay the participation fee of Rs 1 crore in four equal installments or as a lump sum. A dedicated bank account will be established to manage this year's ISL expenses.