Bengaluru FC's senior players, led by Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri, have stepped up in a major way by agreeing to take a pay cut ahead of the upcoming truncated Indian Super League (ISL) season. Club owner Parth Jindal confirmed the development on Monday, calling it a crucial decision during one of the most difficult periods in Indian football's history.
The ISL season, which was stalled for more than four months due to administrative and financial uncertainty, is set to resume on February 14 in a shortened format. Speaking on X, Jindal acknowledged the gravity of the situation and praised the players for prioritising the club and the sport over personal considerations.
"Everyone is well aware of the challenging phase Indian football is going
through," Jindal wrote on X.
"For me, as a BFC team owner and someone deeply passionate about the sport and the club, this has been one of the toughest periods ever.
"I am grateful to all the first-team players who have agreed to reduce their remuneration during this phase. This was one of the toughest decisions we have had to make as a club, and I truly appreciate that the players have made this sacrifice in the best interests of the club and the sport. "
Last month, Jindal had openly appealed to players across the league to make "sacrifices" in order to help clubs survive the financial strain caused by the delayed season. At the time, he had warned that some franchises could be forced to "shut shop for good" without collective support. While specific measures were not outlined then, salary reductions were widely anticipated.
Bengaluru FC's squad features several high-profile Indian internationals, including Chhetri and long-time first-choice goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. In another significant move ahead of the season restart, the club also appointed former India international Renedy Singh as head coach.
Bengaluru FC are not alone in taking this route. Earlier, FC Goa confirmed that their players and support staff, including India captain Sandesh Jhingan, had also accepted pay cuts. The club described the move as a "selfless" act and said it was "deeply humbled" by the unity shown within the squad.
The ISL crisis began after Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the AIFF's former commercial partner, terminated the Master Rights Agreement on December 8 following disagreements over renewal terms. A fresh tender process failed to attract bidders, throwing the league's future into doubt.
After intervention from the sports ministry and prolonged negotiations, all 14 ISL clubs have agreed to take part in the revised season. Each team will play 13 matches, with 91 games scheduled overall. Clubs will collectively shoulder around 60 per cent of the league's operational expenses-roughly ₹1 crore per club-with the AIFF estimating the total budget at ₹25 crore.
