The ongoing crisis in Indian football deepened further after the All India Football Federation (AIFF) failed to secure a single bid for the Indian Super League's (ISL) commercial rights, prompting East Bengal to appeal to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to intervene and provide financial support.
The AIFF confirmed on Friday that no proposals were received under its Request for Proposals (RFP) issued on October 16. The 15-year commercial contract was expected to help monetise the league's assets, but the bidding window closed on November 7 without a single offer.
The bids were initially set to be opened on November 11, but that plan has been shelved after the Bid Evaluation Committee, headed by retired Justice Nageswara Rao, was
left without submissions to assess.
This development follows months of turbulence in Indian football after the AIFF's long-standing partnership with Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) - a Reliance-led entity managing the ISL since its launch in 2010 - came under scrutiny. The Supreme Court, while reviewing the implementation of a new AIFF constitution, had barred the federation from renewing its agreement with FSDL, forcing it to issue fresh tenders.
In light of this uncertainty, East Bengal executive committee member Debabrata (Nitu) Sarkar expressed deep concern over the league's future. "We have not suspended our operations yet, but there's no clarity on the ISL. I personally feel Indian football cannot come to a standstill like this," Sarkar told PTI.
He added that the club will resume training on November 10 to prepare for the Super Cup semifinals but urged swift government action: "The Sports Ministry, AIFF, and former officials must find a solution soon. "
In a passionate plea, Sarkar called on the BCCI to extend a helping hand. "Football is the most popular sport worldwide and also hugely loved in India. My appeal is to the BCCI - if they can sponsor Indian football for even four or five years, it would make a massive difference. For them, Rs 100-150 crore is not a big sum. If they take responsibility, Indian football can move forward in a better way. It can't get better than this," he said.
