To safeguard the future of Indian football, the Supreme Court of India has directed the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to initiate the 2025–26 football season on schedule.
The directive comes amid ongoing disputes between AIFF and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) over the Master Rights Agreement (MRA), which expires on December 8, 2025.
The Court accepted a joint proposal from AIFF and FSDL to begin the season with the Super Cup, followed by the Indian Super League (ISL) in December, pending approval from the Asian Football Confederation. The ruling emphasized the importance of maintaining competitive continuity and institutionalizing domestic and international football events.
In a significant development, the Court appointed former Supreme Court Judge Justice L. Nageswara Rao to oversee the selection of a new commercial partner for ISL through an open and transparent tender process. This move replaces the earlier suggestion to involve the “Big Four” consulting firms, which the Court rejected.
However, the Court has reserved its verdict on the AIFF’s draft constitution, which is under scrutiny for alignment with the National Sports Governance Act of 2025. Legal experts raised concerns about the Act’s provisions on tenure limits and age caps for federation elections, leaving the season’s long-term structure in limbo.
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey hailed the Court’s intervention as a “significant step in the evolution of Indian football,” expressing optimism about the collaborative efforts between stakeholders.
