Churchill Brothers does not want to play the I-League! Waits for entry in the ISL
Sudeep Pakrashi: Churchill Brothers will not play in the I-League this season, says the club’s founder and president, Churchill Alemao. When asked about their preparation for the I-League this season, Alemao told Parallel Sports, No, we will not play in the I-League. Why should we play? We are already the I-League champions. Our team is now playing in the Goa Professional League. We are busy with that.” When asked whether the club has been asked to make a debut in the ISL this season, Alemao commented, “We have not yet received any such intimation. So, if we get the intimation, then we can take part. But to date, we have not made any preparation for the ISL.” Odisha FC had given two days to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) about the team’s confirmation in the ISL this season. It is believed that the AIFF has selected the Goan team for the ISL if Odisha FC finally pulls out of the League. But at the same time, the reality shows a different scenario, in which not only Odisha FC, but six more clubs have not yet confirmed their team’s participation in the country’s top-tier league. They have adopted a delaying tactic by raising three fresh queries. Those are the relaxation of the participation fee, confirmation of the promotion-relegation issue, and the cost of respective stadiums while staging the home matches.
Cash-strapped AIFF forms two separate committees to review ISL and I-League clubs’ proposals again
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) formed two separate committees after its annual general meeting on Saturday to discuss proposals of ISL and I-League clubs before formulating a plan to organize the country’s two topmost competitions. Having received offers that would have only regulatory and statutory authority and rights fee amounts far less than what it has received from its erstwhile commercial partner, Reliance-owned FSDL (Rs 50 crore per annum on average), the AIFF has decided to explore whether it could conduct the league on its own. ISL clubs insist they were compelled to put forward an offer where they would enjoy absolute authority over key areas since AIFF hasn’t yet put any plan for consideration. The AIFF faced a blow as it announced a deficit of Rs 25.88 crore in the budget for January to May 2026, at the AGM. Despite the acute financial crisis one of the senior executive committee members asserted that that AIFF itself would organize the league after some members expressed reservations n proposals of guaranteed income of Rs 10 crore from 2026-27 for grant of Rs 10 Crores perpetually and Rs 50 crore in 15 years from I-League sides (Rs 2.75 crore per annum for first five years, Rs 3.25 crore per annum for the next five and Rs 4 crore for the last 15). No immediate indication was forthcoming regarding the procurement of funds to organize the two leagues. However, two separate four-member committees, involving three state unit officials and Deputy Secretary M. Satyanarayan as chairperson of both, would engage with the clubs to find a feasible way. AIFF has a fixed deposit of Rs 50 crore, though it wasn’t instantly clear if it would be used in these times of acute stress. The two committees would submit reports by 29th December, which could then be taken up by the Union Sports Ministry for placement in front of the Supreme Court when it resumes on 5th January in the new year after a winter break. “If necessary, the AIFF will consult with FIFA and the AFC to review how similar situations in other nations were handled as precedents,” AIFF said in its statement.
I-League Clubs’ proposal to the AIFF for a new League with 18 teams!
I-League clubs have submitted a proposal to revive the I-League. According to the plans, a new league, to be named Indian Football Premier League (IFPL) can be hosted by the clubs themselves. According to the proposed plans I-League clubs will form a consortium and they are reportedly ready to contribute Rs. 50 crore in total to AIFF for the next 15 years to make this vision a reality. Meanwhile, AIFF executive committee member Avijit Paul has sent a strong email to AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey opposing the Indian Super League (ISL) clubs’ offer of Rs 10 Crore to the AIFF from the next season. Paul calls the proposal “unacceptable” and an attempt to undermine the authority of Indian football’s top governing body. In his letter, Paul responded to the joint communication sent by a majority of ISL clubs to the AIFF and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, which proposed granting perpetual rights to a club-owned company to operate India’s top-tier professional league under its regulatory oversight. The AIFF Executive Committee member said the proposal conflicts with its Constitution and ongoing legal proceedings before the Supreme Court of India.
I-League also without a ‘commercial bidder’ like ISL!
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).
Union Sports Minister only listens to everybody! FSDL wants to reduce the AIFF-proposed amount
Looking forward to the resumption of the country’s premier football leagues this season, Indian football did not find any ray of hope even after a series of virtual meetings with Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday afternoon. The ISL clubs, the I-League clubs, cxountry’s a few leading broadcasters, and the FSDL, commercial partner of the AIFF, put their proposals to the Union Sports Minister accordingly since the afternoon. FSDL also had a separate meeting with the Union Sports Minister. Then, ISL and I-League club representatives had a meeting jointly in the evening with the Sports Minister, where the Joint-Secretary, Union Sports Ministry, the broadcasters, FSDL, and AIFF top brass were also present. It has been learned that no specific time frame has been given to the clubs regarding the resumption of the ISL and I-leagues this season. Union Sports Minister has only assured them of a response, which will be taken shortly, looking forward to the solution of this stalemate. It is also learned that after ISL clubs’ proposal to resume the ISL, bearing their own expenses, I-League club bosses urged the Sports Ministry to bring out a system in running the country’s premier leagues. One of the I-League club bosses revealed on condition of anonymity, “We urged for running of the Leagues systematically or make a merger of the ISL and elite I-League. If that cannot be done then a system must be there where relegation and promotion in the ISL must be applied. Promotion in the ISL has started, but that is also creating confusion. When a club is being promoted to ISL, is the respective club’s capacity to fulfil all financial terms for the ISL being monitored at all? We saw Mohammedan Sporting, that how they failed to pay salaries to their ISL footballers. We saw how they failed to clear the ISL coach’s salary. So, along with relegation, the system of promotion should be transparent.” However, FSDL in their assertion conveyed the message that Indian football does not have the financial value demanded by the AIFF in their initial tender. It meant, the company wants to pressure the AIFF to reduce the amount. One of the leading broadcasters pointed out that Indian football should have a proper structure. The broadcaster cited the example of India’s domestic cricket, which is played nearly six to eight months a year.
