Former captain and high striker Sunil Chhetri on Wednesday (July 16, 2025) mentioned the present state of “uncertainty” in Indian football is very regarding and the game’s ecosystem is “worried, hurt, and scared” by the top-tier ISL being placed on maintain indefinitely.
Chhetri, who turns up for Bengaluru FC within the league, mentioned he has been inundated with cellphone calls and messages expressing apprehensions about the way forward for the game within the nation.
“It began with worrying about how I am on borrowed time with what I have left in the tank. But speaking with players from across clubs, I’ve realised that my selfish problem isn’t as important,” the 40-year-old Chhetri posted on X.
“The current situation that Indian football finds itself in, is very concerning. I’ve received a flurry of texts from players, staff members, physios, masseurs – not just from my club, but from other clubs as well.
“Everybody within the Indian football ecosystem is fearful, damage, scared in regards to the uncertainty we’re confronted with,” he added.
MRA renewal issues
The ISL (Indian Super League) put the 2025-26 season “on maintain” due to uncertainty surrounding the renewal of Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between the event organisers and the All India Football Federation.
The league normally runs from September to April, and the current MRA between Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), which organises the event, and the AIFF is scheduled to expire on December 8, 2025, by which time the ISL would be into its third month.
This was after a Supreme Court directive to AIFF in which the body was asked not to negotiate new terms of the MRA with FSDL, the apex governing body’s commercial partner running the ISL, until a final judgment is delivered in the AIFF draft constitution case.
FSDL deal
FSDL is also the commercial partner of AIFF, and they signed a 15-year MRA in 2010. According to the MRA, FSDL pays the AIFF ₹50 crore annually, and in turn gets the rights to broadcast, manage and commercialise Indian football, which also includes the national team.
Chhetri mentioned he was on trip when he first learnt in regards to the league being placed on maintain.
“…I have to admit it made me smile. And that is as a result of I used to be on trip, hadn’t moved as a lot as I’d have preferred to, and hadn’t been consuming as clear as I often do. I had extra time than I had bargained to get in form.
“That ‘fortnight’ has now changed to ‘indefinitely’ and that smile’s been wiped out. I know that the think tank and all those involved in running the sport are working to get the football season up and running, and I’m hopeful that there is a solid fix sooner rather than later,” he mentioned.
The star participant, who has come out of worldwide retirement to bolster the Indian group that is enduring steady poor outcomes, urged for persistence nonetheless.
“I may not have all the answers, but my message to all those involved with Indian football — and more importantly, the ones whose livelihood depends on it, the players, staff, kitmen, masseurs, medical teams, production crews, operations staff — please stay calm.
“We’ll experience this storm collectively. Stick collectively and look out for one another. Keep coaching and getting higher. Football has to renew quickly. It will,” he signed off.
The AIFF has said it is “acutely aware” of ISL’s importance to the football ecosystem but had to respect the law of the land by following the Supreme Court directive.
