In a major setback for Indian football, the country's premier football competition, the Indian Super League (ISL), has failed to attract any bidders for its commercial rights under the terms set by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
The embarrassing situation unfolded on November 7, 2025, when the 5 PM deadline for submitting tenders passed without a single bid being received by the football governing body.
Financial Demands That Scared Away Investors
The AIFF had invited tenders from companies with a minimum net worth of Rs 250 crore last month, setting forth several conditions that ultimately proved too demanding for potential bidders. The proposed 15-year partnership required the winning bidder to pay the federation Rs 37.5 crore annually or 5 percent of gross revenue, whichever amount was higher.
Additional clauses included mandatory promotion and relegation systems, parachute payments for relegated teams, and gradual implementation of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology. Despite initial interest from four parties, including Fancode (owned by Dream Sports), Conscient Heritage Group, a foreign consortium, and the current rights holder FSDL, none submitted formal bids by the deadline.
Failed Process Leaves AIFF Cornered
The failed bidding process represents a significant blow to the AIFF, which had hoped that awarding rights on their terms would bring financial stability to the cash-strapped federation. Instead, the federation now finds itself in a more vulnerable position with limited negotiation leverage.
A source familiar with the matter revealed that "the financials did not work out" and what the AIFF demanded "did not seem sustainable" for potential investors. This development comes at a particularly challenging time for Indian men's football, which is experiencing one of its darkest phases.
Background and Future Implications
For the past 15 years, Indian football has been operated by Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), a joint venture between Reliance Industries and JioStar, after the AIFF awarded them commercial rights for Rs 700 crore. FSDL has managed the ISL since its inception in 2014, but their agreement expires on December 8, 2025.
The AIFF had floated a Request for Proposal on October 16 seeking a new partner to handle ISL's commercial rights, including broadcast deals, sponsorship, digital operations, and merchandising. Despite extending the deadline and holding multiple discussion rounds, the financial model ultimately deterred all interested parties.
This failure leaves the future of India's top-tier football league uncertain and raises serious questions about the sustainability of the federation's financial expectations for professional football in the country.
