As the Indian Super League (ISL) hangs in uncertainty, leading Indian footballers and overseas players associated with the league have made a rare collective appeal to FIFA, urging world football's governing
body to step in and help resolve the deepening crisis.
The joint plea, shared via Instagram on Friday, underlined the growing anxiety within the football community as the 2025-26 season remains stalled.
Prominent names such as India and Bengaluru FC goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, FC Goa and India defender Sandesh Jhingan, and former national team captain and Bengaluru FC talisman Sunil Chhetri were among those who fronted the statement. The players expressed frustration over the prolonged lack of clarity surrounding the league, which normally would be well underway by this point in the calendar.
"It's January and we should be on your screens as apart of a competitive football game in the Indian Super League," Gurpreet said. Echoing the sentiment, Jhingan added, "Instead, here we are driven by fear and desperation to say aloud something which we all know. " Chhetri stressed the wider implications of the uncertainty, saying, "Players, staff, , owners and the fans deserve clarity, protection and more importantly, a future. "
India's top domestic and foreign players, along with Sunil Chhetri, have come together and appealed to FIFA to step in and do what it takes to save Indian football.
Embarrassing - we are a country with 140 crore people that can't do anything to save Indian football.
What's the… pic.twitter.com/0cdUaSIU8v- Tejash (@Tejashyyyyy) January 2, 2026
The statement went beyond frustration, making a direct appeal for external intervention. "But more importantly, we are here to make a plea. Indian football government is no longer able to fulfil its responsibilities. We are now staring at a permanent paralysis. This is the last-ditch effort to save what we can. So we are calling the FIFA to step in and do what it takes to save Indian football," the players said. They also emphasised that the appeal was not politically motivated, adding, "This call is not political, it is not driven by confrontation but by necessity. "
Describing the situation as dire, the players warned of a "humanitarian, sporting and economic crisis," concluding with a simple request: "We just want to play football, please help us do it. "
The appeal comes a day after 13 of the 14 ISL clubs communicated to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) that they could consider participating in a delayed and shortened 2025-26 season under strict conditions. The clubs reportedly sought waiver of participation fees and asked the AIFF to bear the organisational and operational costs. They also demanded a clear, time-bound roadmap covering governance reforms, commercial partnerships, broadcasting arrangements and a transition to a financially sustainable league model.
Additionally, the clubs urged the national federation to seek support from the Government of India to help stabilise the league. As negotiations continue behind the scenes, the players' public call to FIFA highlights the growing sense of urgency around the future of Indian football's top-tier competition.
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