Sunil Chhetri leads players' appeal to FIFA to 'save Indian football' as ISL-AIFF standoff continues

The New Year has begun on a not-so-happy note for Indian football as the standoff between the Indian Super League (ISL) teams and All India Football Federation (AIFF) continues. Generally, the ISL season starts by the end of September or October but the 2025-26 season is yet to take off due to the absence of a main commercial partner.

There have been talks of a shortened ISL season from the AIFF but the federation's letter to all the franchises is yet to get a unanimous reply. As things stand, there is no clarity over whether this season will happen at all. Meanwhile, major ISL stars led by India captain Sunil Chhetri have appealed to football's governing body Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to intervene.

January 1 was the deadline for the ISL franchises to confirm their participation for a trimmed 2025-26 season but the deadlock continues. As per reports, the franchises have requested for formal support and more details from the AIFF over various aspects of the tournament, if it were to be held.

“We are now staring at permanent paralysis. This is a last-ditch effort to save what we can," say the ISL players in a video posted on social media.

"So, we are calling FIFA to step in and do what it takes to save Indian football. We hope this message gets to the powers that are in Zurich."

“It’s January, and we should be on your screens as part of a competitive football game in the Indian Super League. Instead, here we are driven by fear and desperation to say aloud something that we all know. But more importantly, we are here to make a plea. The Indian football government can no longer fulfil its responsibilities."

Apart from Chhetri, the video also features the likes of Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Sandesh Jhingan, Pritam Kotal, Rahul Bheke, Suresh Singh Wangjam and Amrinde Singh among the Indian stars. Meanwhile, foreign players have also voiced their support with Carlos Delgado, Hugo Boumous and Michel Zabaco joining in the digital protests.

Jamshedpur FC is the only ISL team to show complete disinterest over a trimmed 2025-26 season while the other teams have expressedd their interests that are subject to a host of conditions. The main demand from the clubs is that the AIFF should shoulder the entire financial responsibility of the tournament. A meeting has been scheduled on Saturday (January 3) to follow-up on this situation.