August 6 – With the future of the Indian Super League (ISL) in doubt, Bengaluru FC have stopped paying the salaries of players and staff.
Indian football is once again in crisis, this time at the club level. Negotiations between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) over the ISL master rights agreement have stalled, leaving the future of the country’s top flight uncertain.
As a result, Bengaluru have taken the decision to suspend salaries for players and staff.
In a statement, the club said: “Running and sustaining a football club in India has always been an uphill climb, one that we have put everything aside and made, season after season.
“However, the lack of clarity on the League’s future leaves us with no choice but to take this step. The future and well-being of our players, staff and their families is of utmost importance to us, and we are in touch with them as we wait for a resolution.”
“We urge the AIFF and FSDL to end this impasse swiftly. The uncertainty benefits no one, and a prompt resolution is vital for the future of Indian football.”
Eight ISL clubs had already written to the AIFF after the top-tier league was put on hold. The 15-year master rights agreement between the AIFF and FSDL will end December 18.
FSDL wants a complete overhaul of the existing agreement, proposing the creation of a new jointly-owned company to manage the league, but the AIFF prefers to maintain the current arrangement, under which the governing body receives an annual payment of 50 crore (£4.2 million) from FSDL, with a built-in 5% annual increase.
Bengaluru FC, Jamshedpur FC, FC Goa, Hyderabad FC, Kerala Blasters, NorthEast United FC, Odisha FC and Punjab FC signed the letter, but the three Kolkata-based clubs – Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting – as well as Mumbai City FC and Chennaiyin FC were missing.
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