There has always been controversy in Indian football, and yet another scandal has joined the bandwagon! The organizers of the Indian Super League (ISL), according to reports, have told clubs that the next 2025–26 season is up in the air and won't begin until the status of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) with the AIFF is clarified.

Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) oversees the ISL, which is also the nation's premier football league. FSDL is also the business partner of AIFF, and they struck a 15-year MRA in 2010. As per the MRA, FSDL pays the AIFF 500 million rupees yearly in exchange for the rights to manage, broadcast, and commercialize Indian football, including the national team.

An unnamed source with knowledge of the development told the PTI that "FSDL has verbally told the ISL club owners that the next edition will not start until there is clarity on the MRA".

“It is unclear if the MRA will be renewed or if a new agreement will be signed when it expires in December.”

On the other hand, the AIFF has maintained its innocence. “We have not received any information from the FSDL regarding ISL,” stated AIFF Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan.

September marks the start of the two prior ISL seasons. The PTI report also states that FSDL intends to establish a new holding company that will manage the ISL, with shareholders consisting of participating clubs (60%), FSDL (26%), and AIFF (14%). Perhaps there are other arrangements for other properties such as the national teams and the I-League, the anonymous source told PTI. But it is currently unclear as to the intentions of the AIFF and FSDL.

The delay is also caused by the Supreme Court instructing the AIFF to refrain from making any significant choices until the conclusion of the ongoing constitutional case. The nation's highest court reserved its judgement on April 30.

In the interim, a former official said, "It will take time for the new office bearers to negotiate the MRA if the SC orders a new election of the AIFF."

However, by shortening the schedule or extending the end date, the 2025–26 event may still be possible. That is the ideal situation.

Furthermore, ISL was not mentioned at all in the 2025–26 calendar that was published last month. "The calendar held nothing to be interpreted," the PTI was informed by the source. In addition to being released last month, the document was intended for activities that are organized and managed by the AIFF.

Because the AIFF does not directly run the ISL, the ISL dates were not listed on the calendar. In addition, the AIFF always talks with the FSDL before disclosing ISL dates. As a result, the ISL is not mentioned anywhere in the calendar.

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