AIFF agrees to four-year club-led ISL model after meeting with sports minister

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has agreed to a club-led model for the Indian Super League (ISL) for the next four seasons following discussions involving club representatives and Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in New Delhi.

Under the proposed arrangement, each participating club will contribute ₹1.1 crore per season to the AIFF. If all 14 clubs compete, the federation will receive ₹15.4 crore annually to support its regulatory responsibilities, including refereeing, legal affairs, integrity measures and anti-doping operations.

The decision comes after negotiations between the federation and club owners, with sources indicating that AIFF had initially sought a higher financial contribution from clubs. However, the clubs maintained their position and secured support for the club-led framework.

Representatives from almost all ISL clubs attended the meeting, with the exception of Jamshedpur FC. Newly promoted Diamond Harbour FC was also present, although uncertainty remains over the club's participation amid an ongoing investigation into its operations.

Promotion and relegation to continue under new structure

One of the key outcomes of the discussions was the confirmation that promotion and relegation will remain part of the league system. Mohammedan Sporting Club, which finished bottom of the ISL standings, has been relegated and was not part of the meeting.

Several club officials also advocated for the expansion of the top division. ISL champions East Bengal reportedly proposed a 16-team league structure during the discussions.

Former AIFF president Praful Patel, who attended the meeting at the invitation of the sports minister, was said to have played an important role in helping both sides reach common ground. Patel previously served as an Asian Football Confederation vice-president and a member of the FIFA Council.

The clubs also expressed willingness to engage with Genius Sports regarding football data rights. The London-based company has reportedly submitted a long-term commercial proposal worth approximately ₹2,130 crore over 20 years for the rights to the ISL and Federation Cup.

The agreement provides a degree of stability for Indian football's top-tier competition as stakeholders work toward a governance model aligned with AIFF, AFC and FIFA regulations.