In a Kolkata boardroom on Saturday, the AIFF blinked. Faced with a public revolt from nine of its 14 ISL clubs less than 24 hours earlier, the federation stopped short of approving the ₹2,129-crore Genius Sports commercial deal. The decision now rests with the Executive Committee. The standoff over Indian football’s future, however, is far from settled.
AIFF SGM Defers ISL Commercial Deal in Kolkata
The Special General Body Meeting in Kolkata on Saturday produced the one outcome ISL clubs had publicly demanded. The AIFF did not approve the Genius Sports commercial proposal. Instead, the federation gave its Executive Committee “the power to discuss and deliberate upon the MRA negotiations”. Among the attendees were 19 Executive Committee Members, 32 Member State Association representatives, and officials from FIFA and AFC. The meeting also unanimously approved the AIFF’s adoption of the National Sports Governance Act 2025. The Federation confirmed it had received bids from two entities for the Master Rights Agreement. Yet, no final decision emerged. The clubs, who had warned of withdrawal from future seasons, have for now secured a tactical reprieve.
ISL Clubs Win Tactical Reprieve After Joint Statement
The story behind Saturday’s outcome stretches further back. Less than 24 hours earlier, nine of the 14 ISL clubs had issued a coordinated public statement. They flagged the “continued uncertainty surrounding professional football in India” as the reason for reviewing their league commitment. The signatories included Kerala Blasters, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Mumbai City FC, Chennaiyin FC and Sporting Club Delhi. They had asked AIFF not to take any binding decision at the SGBM. Furthermore, several clubs were reportedly preparing legal options. The pressure had its effect. AIFF Executive Committee member Valanka Alemao had earlier urged the cancellation of the meeting itself. She cited Article 21.1.(m) of the federation’s constitution. The clause requires 75 per cent consent from eligible voting members for any agreement spanning more than four years.
What the AIFF Did Approve: NSGA Adoption and Constitution Process
That is not to say Saturday produced no decisions at all. The General Body unanimously approved the AIFF’s adoption of the National Sports Governance Act 2025. This decision aligns Indian football with the new national sports governance framework. The federation also confirmed it will circulate a draft Constitution among Member Associations. Each Association now has 15 days to respond with final suggestions. On the MRA, however, the General Body chose a procedural exit rather than a substantive one. By empowering the Executive Committee to handle further deliberations, the federation has neither rejected nor approved the Genius Sports deal. The 20-year, ₹2,129-crore proposal, therefore, remains alive but undecided. A second bid, as yet unidentified, sits alongside it on the table.
Indian Football’s Executive Committee Now in the Spotlight
All eyes now shift to the AIFF Executive Committee. The Member Associations have 15 days to send their feedback. After that window closes, the ExCo will resume MRA discussions. The new Governance Act and the clubs’ pressure will shape those terms. The clubs themselves have not declared victory. Their 90 per cent club-owned counter-proposal remains formally on the table. Kerala Blasters and Chennaiyin FC, in particular, continue to flag existential financial concerns. East Bengal, the new champions, head to the AFC Champions League Two qualifying stage. Meanwhile, the rest of the league waits. The eventual direction of Indian football’s commercial future will now hinge on a series of Executive Committee meetings. The standoff has merely entered its next phase.
