A dispute has erupted in Indian football after twelve clubs from the Indian Super League accused the All India Football Federation (AIFF) of earning significant profits during what they describe as a financially strained season. In a strongly worded letter to the federation, the clubs alleged that despite assurances that the governing body would not make any money from the league this year, AIFF is set to record a surplus of more than ₹3.4 crore.
Clubs question revenue-sharing model
According to India Today, twelve ISL clubs, excluding NorthEast United FC and Jamshedpur FC, sent a five-page letter to the federation’s deputy secretary general expressing concern over the financial structure of the ongoing season. The clubs alleged that the AIFF is retaining around 40% of the revenue despite contributing no operational funding. They argued that the teams themselves have been forced to shoulder almost the entire financial burden to keep the league running.
In the letter, the clubs pointed out that the financial model showed “AIFF Contributions: 0; AIFF Share on Ops: 0; Entire operational funding borne by clubs.” Despite this, they claimed the federation is set to generate a surplus of more than ₹3.4 crore. The clubs also reminded the federation that earlier discussions involving the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports had indicated that the AIFF would not profit from the league this season.
Clubs demand transparency and fair partnership
The clubs said it was unfair for the federation to earn revenue in what they described as a “force majeure-like interim season” where teams are already under significant financial pressure.
They argued that if the AIFF considers the ISL to be its own league, then it should also take responsibility for the financial risks. However, if the competition is meant to function as a partnership, they insisted that the economic structure and decision-making process should reflect that. Despite their objections, the clubs have agreed to pay the first instalment of ₹30 lakh requested by the federation to ensure that the league continues without disruption. However, they clarified that this payment should not be interpreted as acceptance of the current financial arrangement.
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Concerns over the commercial partner tender
In addition to the revenue dispute, the clubs also expressed dissatisfaction with the AIFF’s decision to issue a tender for a long-term commercial partner without informing them in advance. According to the letter, none of the clubs was consulted before the request for qualification (RFQ) was published. They said no draft was circulated for review, and no official copy of the final document was shared with them beforehand.
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The disagreement highlights growing tensions between ISL clubs and the AIFF over financial transparency and governance of the league. While the clubs have temporarily complied with payment demands to keep the competition running, their letter signals a deeper conflict over how India’s top football league should be managed and funded in the future.
