The ISL Crisis: The Full Timeline of Indian Football's Supreme Court Drama

The Constitutional Beginnings (2017-2022)

The ongoing ISL crisis began in 2017 when Delhi High Court annulled AIFF elections for being against the National Sports Code. This went up to the Supreme Court, which sacked Praful Patel as AIFF president after he completed 12 years (three terms) over the allowed limit under Sports Code rules.

In May 2022, the Supreme Court formed a three-person Committee of Administrators (CoA) with retired Justice A.R. Dave as chairman, former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi and former Indian captain Bhaskar Ganguly as members. The CoA proposed a new constitution, which was opposed by state associations before being furthered by retired Justice L. Nageswara Rao in May 2023.

The April 2025 Verbal Stay

The turning point arose on April 30, 2025, when the Supreme Court granted a verbal stay/injunction restraining AIFF from negotiating any large commercial agreements pending the outcome of the constitutional case. This instruction held in abeyance negotiations for the renewal of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) with Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL).

The Master Rights Agreement Deadlock

Financial Structure at Stake

The 15-year MRA, entered into in 2010, gives FSDL a monopoly on ISL commercial rights for a price of ₹50 crore a year to AIFF. The deal ends on December 8, 2025 - midway through an ISL season that lasts from September through April.

The proposed changes, sources indicate, were 60% club equity, 26% FSDL, and 14% AIFF - a dramatic departure from the existing framework.

FSDL's Reaction

On July 11, 2025, FSDL formally put the 2025-26 ISL season "on hold", citing inability to plan or commercialize without contractual clarity after December. The move prompted immediate operational suspensions at several clubs.

Joint Warning Letter

Eleven ISL clubs issued a stark threat to AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey on August 15, 2025, in which they threatened "complete and permanent shutdown" if the standoff persisted. The letter threatened "catastrophic and irreversible consequences" impacting more than 2,000 direct jobs and innumerable indirect livelihoods.

Clubs that signed up: Bengaluru FC, Hyderabad FC, Odisha FC, Chennaiyin FC, Jamshedpur FC, FC Goa, Kerala Blasters FC, Punjab FC, NorthEast United FC, Mumbai City FC, and Mohammedan Sporting.

The Kolkata Giants' Stand

Missing from all joint letters were Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal - the two Kolkata giants that refused to take on the federation head-on.

Mohun Bagan Standpoint: General Secretary Srinjoy Bose held AIFF responsible for the standoff, saying the federation was supposed to have taken care of the situation earlier but stayed away from the aggressive mindset. The club even missed the August 7 AIFF meeting, calling it "futile without Supreme Court clarity".

East Bengal's Stance: Executive Committee Member Debabrata Sarkar remained optimistic, expressing confidence that "FSDL and AIFF will resolve the crisis and ISL will go ahead," though acknowledging potential delays. Unlike Mohun Bagan, East Bengal confirmed attendance at federation meetings.

Mohammedan Sporting's Dilemma: Despite signing the joint letter, the club faced its own crisis earlier in 2025 when FSDL threatened termination over financial irregularities and investor disputes.

The Supreme Court Hearings

1. August 19, 2025 - The Mention

Following AIFF's initial retreat from taking the issue to court, Amicus Curiae Gopal Sankaranarayanan brought up the case before Justices P.S. Narasimha and Atul Chandurkar. The court fixed the pivotal hearing on August 22 at 2:00 PM.

2. August 22, 2025 - The Decision

The hearing concluded with the Supreme Court instructing AIFF and FSDL to finalize an early settlement. Instead of giving a verdict immediately, the court scheduled the next hearing on August 28, 2025, at 1:15 PM, providing parties with a scheduled timeframe for reaching consensus.

What Every Stakeholder Desires

AIFF's Stand

Looks for guaranteed financial investment from FSDL in place of profit-sharing structures

Initially asserted capacity to operate ISL on its own, later withdrawn owing to constitutional limitations

Wants commercial certainty in line with new constitution principles

FSDL's Demands

Prefers the profit-sharing model rather than fixed payments

Needs long-term commercial clarity to secure sponsors and broadcasters

Cannot guarantee full-season operations with MRA ending mid-season

Clubs' Ultimatum

Call for 15-30 day resolution or consent to continue league operations

Warn of FIFA/AFC sanctions for inadequate competitive matches

Threaten independent legal action in the event AIFF does not act

The Broader Impact

National Team Consequences

With 400+ professional footballers on the rolls of ISL clubs, preparation of the national team is gravely affected. India will invite AFC sanctions for failing to ensure minimum match requirements for continental competitions.

Financial Disaster

₹2,000+ crore investment over 11 years under threat

Three clubs have suspended salaries/operations already

Several sponsors have pulled out amidst uncertainty

Stakes in the Constitution

The soon-to-come AIFF constitution has revolutionary reforms: 12-year term limits, age restrictions of 70, five stellar players on executive committee, and no-confidence motion provisions. This ruling can become a model for all Indian sports federations.

What's Next

The August 28 hearing will determine whether negotiating parties can reach consensus or if the Supreme Court must impose a solution. With the ISL season traditionally starting in September, each passing day makes organizing a full campaign more challenging, potentially forcing a December start or complete season cancellation.

The saga is not only a commercial conflict but also an existential struggle regarding the governance framework of Indian football, with the Supreme Court's constitutional imagination pitted against the commercial realities of operating a professional league.