New Delhi: All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Indian Super League Clubs (ISL) came to the same platform on Wednesday to announce a four-year contract led by the top club in Indian football. Under this, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) will be created to operate the ISL business. If all 14 clubs participate, the AIFF will get Rs 15.4 crore (Rs 1.1 crore each) as management fee and 10 per cent of the total profit.TimesofIndia.com understands that an agreement has been reached on three sticking points between the ISL and AIFF groups: a special investigation into the SPV; 10% share of each profit and final share.
The AIFF will be responsible for administration, rules, integrity and anti-doping efforts as the national governing body.Beyond Rs 1.1 crore in the first year, ISL clubs will contribute Rs 1.15 crore, Rs 1.20 crore and Rs 1.25 crore in the next three years. Clubs will have the option to terminate the contract after two years, but must give the AIFF notice.“ISL will be a model led by commercial teams. A letter will be sent to all 14 teams asking them to pay the fees. Based on their responses, a decision will be made as to how the league will run,” said AIFF General Secretary M Satyanarayanan.“We are planning this as a four-year model. After two years, groups can decide if they want to leave the model or continue. However, depending on the situation, it may not happen,” he continued.
New Delhi: All India Football Federation (AIFF) Deputy General Secretary M. Satyanarayan addresses a press conference on the schedule for the 2026-27 Indian Super League (ISL) season, while FC Goa Vice President Ravi Puskur, left, looks on in New Delhi. (PTI photo)(PTI07_08_2026_000159B)
The AIFF had not yet approved the club-led model in detail when it was presented on May 14. But this changed after a meeting with the sports minister. Mansukh Mandaviya on June 8.“(The) AIFF has never said that we are against the model led by the club. In the past, there was an MRA (Master Rights Agreement) partner (FSDL), who was managing the association. Then there was a Supreme Court decision that said the AIFF should have an agreement and manage it.
New Delhi: All India Football Federation (AIFF) Deputy General Secretary M. Satyanarayan, centre, FC Goa Vice President Ravi Puskur, left, and NorthEast United FC CEO Mandar Tamhane at a press conference on the map of the 2026-27 Indian Super League (ISL) season, in New Delhi. (PTI photo)(PTI07_08_2026_000157A)
“Now, if it is a third party like Genius Sport that asked to run the league or our teams come and say we have the technology, we will run it. The right decision to make is to trust our clubs because they are one of our most important stakeholders. And they know that if they don’t do well then they are in trouble. So, this is the example,” he said.Under the new model, a new organization will be created, which will oversee the work of ISL. His responsibilities will include, but not be limited to, attracting sponsors and broadcasters while ensuring the clubs financial stability.“We will have a panel of experts that we will look at to select. You will see advertisements for positions come out in the next few days, maybe weeks, where the candidates will be interviewed clearly among the people in the groups and the AIFF will decide to put on the panel to interview. And the panel of experts will make decisions independent of the league.
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“Apart from the fact that the team of experts will report to the Governing Council which will have representatives of the clubs either the Directors or the owners. This should ensure that the league is stable.“But if not, the professional team will manage the day-to-day operations of the league,” he said.Genius Sports, which paid Rs 2,130 crore for the commercial rights of ISL and Federation Cup for 15+5 years, is still in contention. Clubs are waiting to hear from the London-based company now that the rate has changed.
