India's prominent footballers, spearheaded by national team captain Sunil Chhetri, alongside other key Indian and foreign players, released an emotional video appeal to FIFA and FIFPRO on January 2, 2026, urging immediate intervention in the ongoing crisis plaguing Indian football. The appeal, also featuring Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Sandesh Jhingan, underscored the severe uncertainty surrounding the indefinitely suspended 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) season. The players articulated a dire situation, describing it as a "humanitarian, sporting, and economic crisis" and warned of Indian football facing "permanent paralysis." They expressed fear and desperation, emphasizing that January should have seen them actively competing in the league. The root of the crisis lies in the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) inability to secure a new commercial partner for the ISL after its previous agreement with Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) expired. This has led to substantial financial and operational challenges, with clubs suspending first-team operations and facing delayed payments. Prior to the players' appeal, ISL clubs had communicated their conditions for participating in the delayed season to the AIFF. These included a demand for no participation fee and the federation assuming full financial responsibility for the league's operational costs, aligning with principles of financial prudence. In a subsequent development, the AIFF's Emergency Committee announced on January 3, 2026, its decision to directly conduct the delayed ISL 2025-26 season, with start dates expected to be announced shortly. This move offers a glimmer of hope amidst the prevailing uncertainty, directly following the powerful plea from the footballing community. A former Liverpool legend also voiced shock over the situation, highlighting the wider concern for the sport's infrastructure and development in India.