AIFF Clears ISL 2025-26 After Player Protests, Start Date To Be Announced Next Week

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has officially confirmed that the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 season will be conducted, bringing an end to months of speculation surrounding the country's top-tier football competition. The announcement was made on Saturday, January 3, following an Emergency Committee meeting held earlier in the day.

The decision came after the Emergency Committee reviewed and acknowledged a report submitted by the AIFF-ISL Coordination Committee. This committee was formed on December 20, 2025, after discussions at the AIFF Executive Committee meeting and the subsequent Annual General Meeting, with the aim of addressing the administrative uncertainty surrounding the league.

In a statement released on social media,

the federation said: "The AIFF Emergency Committee met today (January 3, 2026), to consider and acknowledge the report submitted by the AIFF-ISL Coordination Committee. The Coordination Committee was constituted on December 20, 2025, following the AIFF Executive Committee meeting and the subsequent AIFF Annual General Meeting. "

The statement further added: "The Coordination Committee was requested to submit its report to the AIFF Secretariat by January 2, 2026, which was duly complied with. The report was formally acknowledged by the AIFF Emergency Committee, which recommended that the league be conducted by the All India Football Federation. Accordingly, the AIFF will conduct the league, and the date of commencement will be announced next week. "

With this endorsement, the AIFF will directly oversee the running of the ISL, and officials confirmed that the start date for the 2025-26 season will be revealed in the coming days.

The ISL was originally expected to begin in September 2025 but was pushed back due to the lack of a confirmed commercial partner, leaving clubs, players, and fans in prolonged uncertainty.

The delay sparked strong reactions from players, culminating in a video message released on Friday titled 'Save Indian Football'. Leading national team figures such as Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, and Sandesh Jhingan urged FIFA and FIFPRO to step in, stating that "the Indian football government can no longer fulfil its responsibilities. "

Saturday's decision now offers clarity, though questions remain over the league's long-term structure and stability as Indian football looks to move past a turbulent phase.