Sharing a heartfelt note in which he reflected on the current state of affairs, Sunil Chhetri used social media to voice his worries about the persistent "uncertainty" surrounding Indian football. Chhetri is very worried about the suspension of the Indian Super League.

When Chhetri first heard that the preseason was delayed, he frankly admitted that he smiled since the idea of a prolonged break immediately came to mind, but that he quickly changed his mind.

"I have to confess that I smiled when my phone went off a few weeks ago to let us know that the preseason was delayed by two weeks. I had more time than I had expected to get in shape since I was on vacation, hadn't been as active as I would have liked, and hadn't been eating as well as I usually do," Chhetri posted on X.

In the league, the Indian football legend plays for Bengaluru FC. He said that he has also gotten messages from players and support personnel from his own club as well as from other teams.

"That 'fortnight' has now become 'indefinitely,' and that smile has vanished. I started to be concerned about how much I have left in the tank and that I am living on borrowed time. However, after speaking with players from various clubs, I have come to the conclusion that my selfish issue is not that significant.

The state of Indian football today is quite alarming. I've gotten a flood of messages from players, staff, physiotherapists, and massage therapists from various clubs, not just my own. Everyone involved in the Indian football scene is anxious, wounded, and terrified by the ambiguity of our situation, he said.

The 2025–26 season of the ISL has been postponed due to continuing uncertainty surrounding the renewal of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between the league's organizers and the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

Normally, the ISL runs from September through April, but the agreement between Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the tournament organizer, and the AIFF is set to end on December 8, 2025, at which point the league will be in its third month.

The choice came after the Supreme Court ordered the AIFF not to begin fresh negotiations with FSDL—its commercial partner that runs the ISL—over the MRA until a decision is made on the case involving the AIFF's proposed constitution.

FSDL struck a 15-year MRA agreement with AIFF in 2010, and it now pays Rs. 50 crore year for the broadcasting, management, and commercial rights to all of Indian football, including the national team.

In the face of these trying circumstances, Chhetri implored the Indian football community to remain composed and steadfast, holding out hope that the season would soon return to normal. He urged everyone to remain together and continue working hard, acknowledging the behind-the-scenes efforts and expressing his support for those who rely on the game for a living.

"I am optimistic that the think tank and everyone else engaged in managing the sport are working to get the football season up and running, and I am hopeful that a solid solution will be found sooner rather than later. I might not have all the answers, but my advice to everyone involved in Indian football—especially those whose livelihood depends on it, the players, staff, kitmen, masseurs, medical teams, production teams, and operations staff—is please remain calm. We will get through this storm as a group. Stay together and keep an eye out for one another. Maintain your training and improve. Football must start up again soon. He came to the conclusion that it would.

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