ISL Club Owners Propose Working Committee for Commercial Rights Negotiations
In a significant development for Indian football, owners of the Indian Super League (ISL) clubs have formally proposed the creation of a club working committee for the first time. This committee would involve club owners and decision-makers, aiming to engage with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in what they describe as a structured and transparent manner to determine the best path forward for the league's long-term commercial rights.
Unified Action by Club Owners
The proposal comes through a letter signed by 13 of the 14 ISL club owners, with Inter Kashi being the sole exception. The clubs emphasized that this collective initiative seeks to establish an appropriate platform where ideas can be exchanged, common ground identified, and a balanced, sustainable framework developed that benefits all parties involved.
The letter states: "We feel it is important to express, respectfully and in a constructive spirit, that the clubs were not fully satisfied with the manner in which the recent process was conducted. Given the significance of the matter and its long-term implications, there is a shared view at ownership level that greater consultation and structured engagement would have added significant value."
Committee Composition and Timing
The clubs have nominated three owners to represent them on the proposed committee:
- Bhavesh Jindal/Dhruv Sood from SC Delhi
- Nikhil Nimmagadda from Kerala Blasters
- Rohan Sharma from Odisha FC
Additional representatives include:
- Ravi Puskur, CEO of FC Goa
- Ekansh Gupta, Vice President of Chennaiyin FC
- Darren Caldeira, CEO of Bengaluru FC
- Vinay Chopra, Director of Mohun Bagan SG
This proposal was submitted to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey just two days after the federation formed the ISL Governing Council and requested the remaining six clubs to submit their representative names by Friday. Interestingly, the AIFF's action followed an online meeting of all club owners that occurred just one day prior.
Background: The Genius Sports Proposal
According to sources familiar with the matter, the club owners felt compelled to unite as the AIFF appears inclined to accept a bid from Genius Sports, a London-based company. The proposed deal would grant Genius Sports the commercial rights for the ISL for 15 years with an additional 5-year option, totaling a potential 20-year agreement.
The Genius Sports bid amounts to approximately Rs 64.4 crore annually, which translates to roughly Rs 2,130 crore over two decades with a five percent annual increment. This proposal only requires approval from the AIFF general body to proceed.
Club Concerns and Long-Term Vision
The ISL clubs have expressed dissatisfaction with the current process, emphasizing the importance of engaging with all stakeholders, particularly those who fund, build, and sustain the competition. The owners argue that any long-term framework should be developed with clear alignment from club ownership, as they represent the primary investors and long-term stakeholders in the league.
"We express this not as criticism, but to underline the importance of alignment on decisions that carry long-term financial and strategic consequences," the clubs stated in their letter.
The owners further elaborated: "The clubs believe there is now a clear opportunity to move forward constructively. Through our discussions, there is alignment at ownership level that a more structured and collaborative approach can help shape a framework that works effectively for the AIFF, for Indian football more broadly, and for the clubs who continue to invest significantly in the league."
This development marks a pivotal moment in the relationship between ISL club owners and the national football federation, highlighting growing calls for more inclusive decision-making processes in Indian football's premier league.
