Panaji: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has accepted a club-led model to run the Indian Super League (ISL) from the next season. This decision was made at a meeting convened by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in New Delhi on Monday.
Agreement Details
The agreement will be for four years, with each club paying Rs 1.1 crore every season. If all 14 teams participate, AIFF will receive Rs 15.4 crore. This amount can be used to cover costs associated with regulatory functions, including refereeing, legal, integrity, and anti-doping support.
According to a senior club official, the meeting was productive. The clubs secured what they wanted, and the plan now is to ensure the league structure is constitutionally compliant and operates within the AIFF Constitution and AFC/FIFA regulations.
Financial Negotiations
Sources indicate that AIFF initially sought upwards of Rs 20 crore from participating clubs. However, clubs, supported by the sports ministry and owners, held their ground. Except for Jamshedpur FC, all clubs attended the meeting with the sports minister. Newly-promoted Diamond Harbour also attended, but their participation is uncertain due to an ongoing investigation into illegal practices and finances. If action is taken against the IFL champions, the league will proceed with 13 teams.
Mohammedan Sporting Club (MSC), who finished last in the I-League, have been relegated and were not invited. An official stated that relegation is a constitutional requirement and cannot be changed.
Key Figures and Future Plans
ISL champions East Bengal proposed a 16-team top-tier league. Several club officials credited former AIFF president Praful Patel for playing an instrumental role in the sports minister and AIFF accepting the club-led model. One club CEO noted that Patel's presence was key, and the minister was sympathetic to the clubs.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya mentioned that he personally invited Patel, a former AFC vice president and FIFA Council member, to offer insights and help find common ground.
Additionally, clubs expressed openness to engaging with Genius Sports for data rights, offering them first preference. The London-based company has bid Rs 64.4 crore annually with a 5% annual increase, totaling approximately Rs 2,130 crore over 20 years for commercial rights of ISL and Federation Cup.
