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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
Mumbai City FC held off a spirited Inter Kashi fightback to register a 2-1 victory in their Indian Super League match at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan here on Sunday. The Islanders recorded their third win of the campaign to move up to third in the standings with 11 points, while Inter Kashi remained eighth with five points. Islanders' captain Lallianzuala Chhangte was adjudged the Player of the Match. Mumbai City FC scored through Noufal PN (45th+6) and Lallianzuala Chhangte (52nd), while Rohit Danu (51st) struck the lone goal for Inter Kashi FC. Mumbai dominated possession in the opening exchanges, putting the hosts under sustained pressure. Left winger Ayush Chhikara produced the first effort in the fourth minute, but his close-range attempt was comfortably saved by Inter Kashi keeper Lluis Tarres. Chhikara came close again in the 18th minute when he dragged a right-footed effort narrowly wide after being set up by Chhangte. Ortiz also tried his luck from distance in the 20th .
Bengaluru FC held league leaders Mohun Bagan Super Giant to a goalless draw in an Indian Super League match here on Saturday. Despite Mohun Bagan enjoying the majority of possession and creating numerous chances, Bengaluru FC produced a resolute defensive performance to become the first team this season to take points off the Mariners. Mohun Bagan remain at the top of the table with 13 points, while Bengaluru FC move to sixth with eight points. Dimitri Petratos was adjudged the Player of the Match. The contest began at a lively tempo with the Blues applying early pressure. Ryan Williams tested Vishal Kaith in just the second minute, forcing the Mohun Bagan goalkeeper into a low save after being set up by right-back Roshan Singh. Mohun Bagan responded soon after. Maclaren's effort from the left side of the box was well saved by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in the eighth minute, while midfielder Dimitri Petratos fired narrowly wide from distance a minute later. The Mariners gradually sett
Lallianzuala Chhangte's early second-half strike proved decisive as Mumbai City FC edged past Kerala Blasters FC 10 in an Indian Super League match here on Sunday. The Islanders now have six points from two matches, while Kerala Blasters are yet to open their account. Chhangte's decisive strike arrived in the 48th minute. Earlier, Jorge Pereyra Diaz had missed from the penalty spot in the first half, as the two sides went into the interval deadlocked at 0-0. Chhangte received the Player of the Match award. David Catala made four changes to his starting line-up, handing Arsh Anwer Shaikh a start in goal in place of Sachin Suresh, while Sandeep Singh, Marlon Roos Trujillo and Naocha Singh replaced Muhammed Saheef, Aiban Dohling and Ebindas Yesudas. Petr Kratky, meanwhile, made a solitary alteration, with Vikram Partap Singh coming in for the injured Jorge Ortiz. Both goalkeepers were called into action in an open start that set the tone for the contest. Victor Bertomeu forced a shar
Mumbai City FC began their Indian Super League season on a winning note, edging past Chennaiyin FC 1-0 at the Mumbai Football Arena here on Thursday. A tightly-contested encounter was decided by an own goal in the 48th minute by Pritam Kotal as the Islanders secured all three points. Neither team could create much flow in the match as they cancelled each other out in the midfield. Chances were at a premium in the first half as the attackers found it difficult to break the opposition defence. Jorge Pereyra Diaz forced a fine save out of Mohammad Nawaz after he was played through by Jorge Ortiz. Minutes later, Brandon Fernandes found Lallianzuala Chhangte at the far post. The forward laid the ball on the path of Ortiz but the Spaniard's effort only found the goalkeeper. Chennaiyin relied on long balls with Irfan Yadwad and new signing Inigo Martin as the target men, but they were well marked by the Mumbai City defence. The away side earned five corner kicks in the first half but did
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday announced that the Indian Super League (ISL), which was on pause due to the lack of a commercial partner, will start on February 14, ending a crisis that paralysed Indian football for close to six months. The ISL, which used to start in September, will feature all 14 clubs, including Mohun Bagan and East bengal, which were opposed to the financial model suggested by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The second division I-League, which was also on pause for the same reason, will be held "around the same time" with all 11 clubs in participation. "There was lot of speculation regarding ISL but today government, the football federation and all 14 clubs, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal included, had a meeting and we have decided that the ISL will start on February 14. All clubs will participate," Mandaviya announced in a brief statement flanked by CEOs of ISL clubs. Also joining him at the long-awaited resolution table was under-fire All