Ten I-League clubs, on Sunday, wrote to the amicus curiae of the AIFF constitution case, which is pending in the Supreme Court, requesting promotion and relegation in the next season(s) of the Indian Super League (ISL).
“We may mention that we are not parties before the Hon’ble Supreme Court in this ongoing litigation, but remain acutely affected by it,” the clubs wrote to Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan and Advocate Samar Bansal in a letter, which Sportstar has seen.
“We request you to consider putting forth our point of view before the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the same manner as you have done on 22.08.2025 on behalf of the ISL clubs.”
Who are the clubs?
Aizawl FC, Namdhari FC, Rajasthan United, Dempo SC, Gokulam Kerala, Real Kashmir, Sreenidi Deccan, and Shillong Lajong are the I-League sides from last season, while Diamond Harbour FC and Chanmari FC have been promoted through I-League 2.
The top two — champion Inter Kashi and runner-up Churchill Brothers — and the bottom two — Sporting Club Bengaluru and Delhi FC – in I-League’s previous season did not feature in the letter.
ALSO READ | Did AIFF really undermine its League Committee at the CAS?President Kalyan Chaubey clarifies
“As things stand, the AIFF’s inability to sign a new Master Rights Agreement (MRA) with FSDL (Football Sports Development Limited) has led to a virtual suspension of all leagues below ISL as well,” the 10 sides wrote.
What is the issue?
The current MRA between AIFF and FSDL runs out in December 2025, and the Supreme Court has directed the two parties to find a solution for a future agreement.
The lack of a solution about a future MRA has put this season’s ISL ‘on hold’ — officially on July 11 — and has spiralled into the I-League’s plans for the 2025-26 campaign.
“Due to the pending court case, the undersigned clubs have not received any engagement from the AIFF.
“This information asymmetry is creating significant difficulties, which include but are not limited to playing calendar, fixture finalisation, venue confirmation, broadcasting, and production costs, sports technology investments, club entry fees, subsidy structures, and budget provisioning, prize money structure and league composition,” the clubs wrote.
Secondly, the clubs warned against the ISL becoming a ‘closed league’. Earlier in March, FSDL had proposed a draft for a fresh MRA that involved a 10-year moratorium on promotion/relegation from ISL to lower tiers.
Rules of promotion/relegation in the FSDL draft
At least a 10-year moratorium on Promotion/Relegation from ISL to lower tiers, and not until complete alignment of lower tiers as per the new roadmap, pre-agreed between parties.
No club to get promoted to ISL unless it (i) meets strict financial and licensing criteria and (ii) has been in existence for at least five years under the same ownership that meets fitness test.
Despite the proposal being initially rejected by the federation, the 10 sides feel that any similar deal in the future would jeopardise their ambitions.
“It must be recalled that the AFC Roadmap, jointly finalised with the AIFF in 2019, clearly envisaged the implementation of a promotion and relegation system between the Indian Super League (ISL) and the I-League,” the clubs wrote.
ALSO READ | Who is Khalid Jamil, the new India coach?
“Any deviation from this agreed framework would risk turning the ISL into a closed league, contrary to the principles of fair competition.
“The absence of a merit-based pathway for I-League clubs to achieve promotion into the ISL would not only undermine the competitive spirit of the football pyramid in India but also demotivate I-League clubs from further investment and professional development,” they added.
How can the issue be resolved?
The AIFF and FSDL are due to have discussions next week on the new MRA, starting Monday in Bengaluru. Should a deal be agreed upon, the clubs seek a promotion-relegation model going forward and ‘transparent and timely communication from the AIFF’.
“… We may only urge that the matter is time-sensitive and the livelihood of hundreds of players, thousands of supporting staff, not to mention lakhs of football fans, shall also be impacted by these proceedings,” the clubs added.
The next hearing on the case is on August 28.
Published on Aug 24, 2025