Amid the ongoing crisis in Indian football, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya met with I-League team representatives on Thursday to listen to their grievances and called for “constructive dialogue” among all stakeholders to find a way forward.
Seven representatives from the 14 I-League clubs attended the meeting, along with sports secretary and Sports Authority of India (SAI) Director General Hari Ranjan Rao and joint secretary Kunal.
“The minister attentively listened to the I-League representatives and temporarily instructed SAI to engage with the stakeholders. He seeks constructive dialogue between officials of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the Indian Super League (ISL), and I-League,” PTI quoted a source as saying.
The I-League
clubs had avoided a meeting called by the AIFF on Wednesday to address the crisis, which arose from the national body’s failure to secure a new commercial partner for domestic leagues after the partnership with Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) fell through.
The I-League clubs are demanding a common league partner to ensure that the top-tier ISL and the two divisions of the I-League are managed by a single entity.
The search for a new commercial partner by the AIFF is being monitored by the Supreme Court, which approved a new constitution for the body in October.
The agreement between AIFF and FSDL was set to end in December this year, but due to their failure to reach a new agreement, the 2025–26 ISL season has been put on hold.
Clubs like defending champions Mohun Bagan have stopped their training sessions.
Top Indian players such as Sandesh Jhingan and Sunil Chhetri have urged the AIFF to resolve the stalemate, as the livelihoods of hundreds of footballers and support staff are at risk.
In a joint statement on Monday, the players expressed that their anger and frustration with the situation has turned into desperation.
(With agency inputs)
/images/ppid_a911dc6a-image-17630106403781063.webp)
/images/ppid_59c68470-image-176301755657187424.webp)
