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NorthEast United FC rode on a brace from Alaaeddine Ajaraie to beat Kerala Blasters FC 4-1 in an Indian Super League match at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium here on Sunday. Ajaraie scored in the 15th and 70th minutes for the Highlanders. Antonio Moyano (45+4) and debutant Aman CK (82nd) were also on the scoresheet for the home side. NorthEast United broke the deadlock in the 15th minute, as Eneko Satrustegui's needled pass found Ajaraie through on goal. The Moroccan made no mistake, rounding Arsh Anwer in the Kerala goal before slotting home without fuss. The Highlanders continued to threaten, with Arsh denying Jithin a second goal in as many games by pushing his header off target to keep his side in the contest. The Blasters looked to respond through striker Andre Green, whose effort in the 38th minute was blocked by Satrustegui. Only moments later, defender Amey Ranawade's attempt to convert Adrian Luna's cross went in vain as his effort failed to test Gurmeet Singh in the ..
Vibin Mohanan and Andre Green struck a goal each to help Kerala Blasters FC begin their Indian Super League (ISL) campaign with a 2-0 victory over Inter Kashi here on Sunday. Mohanan opened the scoring in the 18th minute before Green struck in stoppage time to seal all three points for the Blasters. Kerala Blasters started on the front foot, with Freddy Lallawmawma firing from distance in the fifth minute. Kashi responded a minute later as Rosenberg Gabriel tested goalkeeper Arsh Shaikh with an effort from the left side of the box, but the Kerala custodian was equal to the task. Manvir Singh also threatened for Inter Kashi, sending an attempt over the crossbar as both sides looked to establish control in the opening exchanges. Korou Singh provided the assist, setting up Mohanan to finish with a right-footed effort from the centre of the box and give Kerala the advantage. Blasters continued to push for a second goal after the restart, with substitute Momo Yansane sending an effort
Churchill Brothers SC began their Indian Super League 2026-27 campaign with a 2-1 win over Mumbai City FC here on Sunday. Gaurav Bora headed in the club's first-ever ISL goal in the 57th minute and Sebastian Gutierrez added a second in the 86th. Sergio Llamas pulled one back from the penalty spot in the third minute of stoppage time, but it was not enough for the Islanders. Mumbai City took the early initiative, controlling possession and building from the back. In the ninth minute, Wilmar Jordan's cross found Brandon Fernandes, whose right-footed effort was saved by Sayad Kadir. Churchill broke forward almost immediately. After clearing a Brandon corner in the 10th minute, Vincy Barretto raced forward and shot from the right but just over the bar. The first-half ended at 0-0. The second half began with intensity from both sides, with Churchill probing for openings and Mumbai City looking to hit on the break. Churchill took the lead two minutes later. Anil Gaonkar swung in a cr
The Indian Super League (ISL) appointed Karan Yadav as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) as it operates under a new club-led model. Yadav has most recently served as Chief Commercial Officer at JSW Sports, where he led a 300-plus crore P&L across sports franchises, talent management and brand consulting. As CEO, Yadav will lead the League Office and the strategic, commercial and organisational direction of the ISL, working closely with the League's clubs and the All India Football Federation (AIFF). His mandate will include shaping the League's overall strategy and commercial direction, strengthening relationships with clubs, broadcasters, sponsors and other stakeholders, while building a high-performing League Office that supports the long-term growth and sustainability of the competition. The model also creates greater opportunity for alignment between the League Office and clubs across commercial strategy, partnerships, broadcast, fan engagement and the development of the ...
FC Bengaluru United on Tuesday reappointed Nallappan Mohanraj as their head coach ahead of the 2026-27 domestic season. The reappointment comes on the back of Mohanraj leading FCBU to qualification to the Indian Football League. His first assignment this season will be the BDFA Super Division League, following which he will guide the team in its maiden Indian Football League campaign. This is Mohanraj's third stint as head coach of FCBU. "I'm very pleased to continue with FC Bengaluru United and to be part of this next chapter. Qualifying for the IFL was a special achievement, but the work does not stop there. "I'm looking forward to building on what we have achieved and continuing to develop the team and the players," said Mohanraj, a former India, Mohun Bagan, ATK and Chennaiyin FC player.
Tata Steel has assured that Jamshedpur FC will honour all existing player contracts and help footballers find new clubs after withdrawing from the Indian Super League (ISL). Vice President (Corporate Services) D B Sundara Raman said the club had communicated its decision transparently to the players before making it public and would ensure that no player or staff member will suffer because of the move. "We have given both options to the players. If someone wants to join another club, we will facilitate that. If someone is not picked up, then whatever contractual commitments we have made will be honoured," Sundara Raman told PTI on Tuesday. The announcement has prompted several Jamshedpur FC players to appeal on social media for the club's decision to be reconsidered. Sundara Raman acknowledged the emotional response but said the players had been informed before the official announcement. "Our CEO, Mukul Choudhari, first spoke to all the players and communicated the decision. We di
Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri has expressed his anguish over Indian Super League side Jamshedpur FC's decision to pull out of the upcoming season, describing the development as "a punch in the gut" and urging the club's management to reconsider. Jamshedpur FC, winners of the ISL Winners' Shield in the 2021-22 season, had announced their withdrawal from the ISL on July 31 just hours after missing the deadline for payment of participation fee for the upcoming season, beginning September 4. In a post on Instagram, the club had confirmed that it would not participate in the ISL from the 2026-27 season onwards. The upcoming season will now feature 13 teams. "To know that Jamshedpur has folded first team operations is a punch to the gut. The players and staff will be without clubs, and they might find one by the end of it all. The League will have a team less, but the season will go on," wrote Chhetri, India's all-time top goalscorer, most-capped player, and the fourth-highest ...
Nearly 150 players of the Indian Super League, including more than 20 in the national team currently or in the recent past, have expired their contracts with the various clubs, and their future thrown into uncertainty due to the mess in the top tier of the country's domestic structure. The contracts of these players ended on Sunday and there has been uncertainty all around as the tussle between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the clubs continue over the future of the ISL next season. The 2025-26 season was delayed and curtailed with each of the 14 teams playing a round-robin league instead of the home and away format, after the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between AIFF and its former commercial partners FSDL expired in December last. The players are now free agents and can be signed by any team. The AIFF has set the starting date for registration of players by different clubs as June 12 and till August 31. Among the players whose contract expired on Sunday are India .
All India Football Federation (AIFF) will seek to amend its constitution in line with the National Sports Governance Act and hold discussions on the new commercial partner of the Indian Super League during its Special General Body Meeting here on Saturday. Each member association of the AIFF can send one representative. Members of the AIFF Executive Committee cannot vote and they cannot also represent the associations to which they belong. "Amendment and adoption of AIFF Constitution in line with National Sports Governance Act 2025. Commercial partners for Indian Super League, Indian Women's League and Super League (Cup)," said a few agenda items of the SGM in a notice issued on May 6. AIFF's executive committee member Valanka Alemao had objected to the SGM being convened, saying it could potentially flout its constitution, leading to contempt of the Supreme Court. She urged that the AIFF should first constitute the associations for players, coaches and referees to elect their ...
The Indian Super League clubs on Saturday urged the All India Football Federation (AIFF) not to take any "binding decision" on the new long-term commercial rights holder during Sunday's executive committee meeting, citing a lack of meaningful opportunity to evaluate the bidders. The ISL clubs have been embroiled in a conflict with the AIFF, with recent developments focusing on the commercial rights tender. Two bidders are in contention to acquire the combined commercial rights of the ISL and Federation Cup, with one of them offering more than Rs 2100 crore for a 20-year period after the AIFF opened the bids on Friday, and the national federation is expected to get its new commercial partner by Sunday, when it meets for an executive committee meeting. The clubs, though, said in a joint statement they "cannot be expected to arrive at a considered view" on the competing bidders without being "afforded a more meaningful opportunity" to assess them in substance while also pointing out th
Two bidders are in contention to acquire the combined commercial rights of the Indian Super League (ISL) and Federation Cup with one of them offering more than Rs 2100 crore for a 20-year period after the All India Football Federation (AIFF) opened the bids on Friday. FanCode and Genius Sports submitted bids for the commercial rights relating to the ISL and the Federation Cup (or the Super Cup), while Capri Sports placed bids for the commercial rights of the Indian Women's League first division and the Indian Women's League 2. It is learnt that Genius Sports, the official data feed provider for the English Premier League, the Championship, and the Scottish league, made a bid of Rs 2129 crore over 20 years. FanCode's bid amount was approximately Rs 1190 crore, nearly half that of the London-headquartered Genius Sports. Capri Sports is the lone bidder for the commercial rights of the Indian Women's League first division and the Indian Women's League 2. They have made a bid of Rs 150
Braian Sanchez scored a brace to help Bengaluru FC register a 3-1 win over Inter Kashi FC in an Indian Super League match here on Sunday. The win took BFC to fourth position in the points table and three points behind the leaders, Mumbai City FC. Rahul Bheke achieved a personal milestone as he made his 100th appearance for BFC. Ashique Kuruniyan gave BFC the lead in the 20th minute before Sanchez struck in the 69th and 90+8th minute. Alfred Moya scored the lone goal for Inter Kashi in the 38th minute. BFC faced an early setback before kick-off, as Ryan Williams picked up a slight muscle strain during warmup and was replaced by Namgyal Bhutia on the flank for his first start in the ISL this season. After finding their rhythm and dominating possession in the opening minutes, BFC broke the deadlock in the 20th minute of the game, when Ashique pounced on a loose ball after an error from the Inter Kashi backline, and finished it off with a powerful left footed shot into the roof of the
Samir Zeljkovic, Bede Osuji and Dani Ramirez struck once each in the first half as Punjab FC defeated Kerala Blasters FC 3-1 for a third consecutive triumph in their Indian Super League here on Saturday. Punjab FC climbed to fifth place in the table with eight points from five matches, while Kerala Blasters remained 13th with just one point from six outings. Zeljkovic was adjudged Player of the Match for his performance. Kerala Blasters head coach David Catala named an unchanged starting XI for the first time this season, while his opposite number Panagiotis Dilmperis made three changes, two of them enforced. Pramveer Singh came into defence in place of Pablo Renan Santos, Osuji started up front for the suspended Nsungusi Effiong, and Muhammad Suhail returned in place of Leon Augustine. Punjab FC started with high intensity and kept their opposition under sustained pressure, which paid off with an early breakthrough. Khaiminthang Lhungdim spotted Zeljkovic and lofted a pass into