New Delhi: Former India captain and iconic striker Sunil Chhetri on Wednesday expressed serious concern over the current uncertainty in Indian football, calling the indefinite suspension of the Indian Super League (ISL) deeply unsettling. He said the entire ecosystem — from players to support staff — is feeling “worried, hurt, and scared.”
Chhetri, who plays for Bengaluru FC in the ISL, said he has been flooded with calls and messages from across clubs regarding the league’s indefinite pause and what it means for their future.
“It started with me worrying about how little I have left in the tank,” wrote the 40-year-old on X (formerly Twitter). “But after speaking to players from various teams, I realised my personal concern pales in comparison to the anxiety being felt across the footballing community.”
“Players, physios, coaches, masseurs — not just from my team, but from all over — have reached out. The uncertainty has rattled everyone connected to the sport.”
The ISL has been put “on hold” for the 2025–26 season amid complications over the renewal of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), which organises the league. The existing agreement expires on December 8, 2025, when the season would already be underway.
The delay follows a Supreme Court directive instructing the AIFF not to enter into new terms with FSDL until a verdict is reached in the case regarding the AIFF’s draft constitution. FSDL, which signed a 15-year MRA in 2010, pays the AIFF ₹50 crore annually in exchange for rights to broadcast, manage, and commercialise Indian football, including national team affairs.
Chhetri said he first heard the news while on holiday. “To be honest, I smiled when I read it. I was on vacation, a little unfit, not eating the cleanest. I thought the extra time might help me get in shape. But what started as a ‘fortnight delay’ has turned into ‘indefinitely’, and that smile is long gone.”
Despite the gloom, Chhetri said he remains hopeful that stakeholders will find a solution soon. “I believe the people at the top are doing everything they can to get the season back on track. I just hope the fix comes quickly.”
The legendary striker, who recently came out of international retirement to support the struggling national team, ended his note with a heartfelt message of solidarity.
“To everyone whose livelihoods depend on football — players, staff, kitmen, medical teams, production crews — please stay calm. We’ll get through this together. Keep training, stay sharp, support each other. Football will resume — it has to,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, the AIFF has maintained that it understands the ISL’s importance but is bound to comply with the Supreme Court’s directive.
