The 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) season has been put on hold due to unresolved negotiations over the renewal of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between the league’s organisers, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), and the All India Football Federation (AIFF). FSDL communicated this decision to all ISL clubs in an official letter on Friday.
The ISL typically runs from September to April, but the current MRA expires on December 8, 2025 — just three months into the upcoming season.
As reported by The Indian Express, the FSDL has written to the ISL clubs that it is unable to effectively ‘plan, organise, or commercialise’ the 2025-26 ISL season. The letter states that while discussions between the two parties over renewal of the MRA were initiated several months ago, they ‘remain inconclusive at this time’.
Consequently, FSDL has placed the league “on hold until further clarity emerges on the contractual framework beyond the current MRA term.”
The AIFF has since issued an official statement regarding the suspension. Read AIFF’s full statement.
AIFF STATEMENT
The AIFF has taken note of the communication issued pertaining to the Indian Super League (ISL), by our partners Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), stating their inability to proceed with the forthcoming season of the ISL in the absence of clarity on FSDL’s continuing rights under a renewed contractual framework.
As per the Master Rights Agreement, the All India Football Federation had, in a timely manner, first initiated the process of requesting negotiations on the terms of a potential renewal with FSDL on November 21, 2024. Thereafter, senior representatives of the AIFF and FSDL convened meetings on February 5, 2025, in New Delhi and subsequently on March 5, 2025, in Mumbai, to discuss the terms of potential renewal of the Master Rights Agreement.
Story continues below this ad
Following these deliberations, a proposal was submitted by FSDL on March 5, 2025, to which, AIFF responded with a counter-proposal on April 21, 2025.
Soon after, the AIFF was advised by its legal counsel that during a hearing on April 26, 2025, the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India made an observation that the renewal of the Master Rights Agreement should not be done until its order.
🔊 AIFF Statement 🚨#IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/zY6atmvIfo
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) July 12, 2025
Consequently, based on legal advice, discussions between the AIFF and FSDL, renewal discussions have been in abeyance pending further directions from the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
The AIFF is conscious of the importance of the ISL not only to the football structure in the country, but also to all the clubs, players, support staff, officials and fans, and also recognises the challenges and difficulties posed due to its disruption. At the same time, AIFF respects the law of the land and the direction of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
The AIFF and its stakeholders will take all possible steps, and do all things within their power, to ensure continuity of the ISL in the best interests of Indian football. We request the understanding of all stakeholders in the interim.
