The All India Football Federation (AIFF) will approach the Supreme Court after receiving no bids for the Indian Super League’s (ISL) commercial rights. Justice (Retd.) L. Nageswara Rao will submit a report to the Court as the “next step in the process.”
New Delhi: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has decided to move the Supreme Court of India after failing to get even a single bid for the commercial rights of the Indian Super League (ISL).
The 12th season of the ISL, which usually begins in September every year, has not yet started, and there is still no confirmed date for its kick-off.
The AIFF had started a tender process on October 16 to find a new commercial partner to handle the broadcasting and digital rights of the ISL.
The last date for submission of bids was originally November 5, but after receiving no bids, the federation extended the deadline to November 7. Even after the extension, no company showed interest in bidding for the league’s rights.
Following this, the AIFF confirmed through a statement released on Sunday, November 9, that the Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC) met to review the matter and would now submit a report to the Supreme Court.
The AIFF said in its official statement,
“The Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC) of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) held a meeting on Sunday, November 9, 2025, to review and discuss the status of the ‘Request for Proposal (RFP) for Awarding the Right to Monetise the Commercial Rights Belonging to the All India Football Federation for a Limited Term.’”
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The statement further added,
“Following the deliberations of the Committee, the Chairperson of the BEC, Justice (Retd.) L. Nageswara Rao will submit his report to the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India as the next step in the process.”
Earlier, the Supreme Court had directed the AIFF, led by Kalyan Chaubey, to adopt its new constitution and begin a fair tender process to find a new commercial partner for the ISL.
For the past 10 years, the league’s commercial and broadcasting rights were managed by Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL). This agreement between AIFF and FSDL is set to end in December 2025.
However, the AIFF and FSDL could not reach a new agreement. As a result, FSDL decided to put the 2025–26 ISL season on hold. This has caused major uncertainty among the clubs, with many of them reportedly pausing their team operations due to a lack of clarity about the upcoming season.
The future of the ISL — including its structure, ownership model, and management — is now under serious scrutiny. Several top clubs, including Kerala Blasters and the defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant, are waiting for the AIFF’s next move and a final decision from the Supreme Court.
The situation has created deep concern across Indian football, as the ISL remains the country’s premier football league.
With the tender process failing and the league’s start delayed, the AIFF’s upcoming report to the Supreme Court is expected to play a key role in determining the next steps for Indian football’s biggest competition.
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