I-League also failed to generate interest among potential investors, as the All India Football Federation‘s second-tier competition didn’t receive any bids for commercial rights in its tender, according to a report from News9 Sports.

AIFF floated the ‘Request for Proposal (RFP)’ on 8th November, and the deadline for submission was 13th December. But at the time of the opening of bids on Sunday, none had landed in the federation’s lap. An indication that the tender was failing to attract any proposals became apparent when no entity attended AIFF’s pre-bid meeting on 5th December to seek clarifications.

But the Federation, in its tender, set prices Rs 6 crore (I-League: Rs 4 CR + I-League 2: Rs 1.25 CR + I-League 3: Rs 75 Lakh), and also the terms and conditions, similar to those set for the Indian Women’s League (IWL). Still, the failed tender reflects that the possible bidders who have shown interest in India’s club football fraternity seemed not willing to get further clarifications.

Now, AIFF officials would have to scratch their heads on how to resume the league after floating a tender till the end of its 2029-30 season, even as they have been assuring the clubs about the resumption of the I-League, also like the ISL.

Companies or three-member consortia with a minimum turnover of Rs 30 crore at the end of the 2024-25 financial year were eligible to place bids.

AIFF is yet to issue any statement on the matter and has very little time to come up with a plan, with half of the season already over without a match being held.

I-League club officials had earlier met the Union Sports Minister to raise concerns over its organisation.

The budget for its elite I-League was already reduced by Rs 4.02 crore to Rs 10.18 crore from Rs 14.20 crore in the last financial year.

A separate tender for IWL and IWL 2 at Rs 3 crore attracted one bid (Capri Sports).