ISL Clubs Suspend Interim Management Committee Ahead of 2025-26 Season Kickoff

In a significant development that underscores ongoing governance challenges in Indian football, all fourteen Indian Super League (ISL) clubs have collectively suspended the league's Interim Management Committee (IMC) on February 13, 2026, merely hours before the kickoff of the ISL 2025-26 season. The dramatic decision, communicated jointly to the All India Football Federation (AIFF), highlights deep-seated concerns among the clubs regarding the committee's legitimacy and operational integrity. The suspension was prompted by the withdrawal of Dhruv Sood, CEO of Sporting Club Delhi, as a signatory on behalf of the clubs, and the resignation of Ravi Puskur, CEO of FC Goa, from the IMC. The clubs argued that these changes "materially affect the functioning, composition, and representative character" of the committee, rendering its current structure untenable. Their joint letter explicitly stated that the IMC was established purely as a facilitative and representative body to improve communication and coordination between the clubs and the AIFF. It was never intended to operate as an independent decision-making authority, take major commercial, structural, financial, or regulatory decisions, or bind the clubs without their express collective mandate. Consequently, the clubs resolved that the IMC, in its current form, could not continue to function effectively or legitimately. They declared the committee suspended with immediate effect, clarifying that it could no longer make decisions or issue communications on behalf of the clubs, and no position conveyed by it would be binding unless separately ratified. Adding to this, the clubs also proposed a new rule, requiring a 75% absolute majority for all future league decisions, aiming to consolidate their collective influence in the league's governance. This move comes against a backdrop of considerable turbulence and uncertainty surrounding the ISL 2025-26 season. The formation of the five-member interim ISL club committee itself was a relatively recent event, constituted around January 30, 2026, with its members, including the now-resigned Ravi Puskur and withdrawn Dhruv Sood, being forwarded to the AIFF to help ensure the smooth conduct of the season. Its intended purpose was to bridge communication gaps and facilitate operations, with an understanding that it would dissolve once a formal governance structure was finalized or the season concluded. The lead-up to the 2025-26 season has been particularly chaotic. The league faced significant delays and structural uncertainties, including a prolonged four-month pause in operations. The commercial viability of the league also came under scrutiny when FanCode secured the media rights for the reduced 2025-26 season with a bid significantly lower than previous agreements, indicating a substantial drop in the league's perceived value. This decline was attributed to the uncertainty and disruptions plaguing the league. Furthermore, Indian football has been grappling with broader administrative issues, including a long-standing Supreme Court case concerning the AIFF's constitution and a disagreement over the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) renewal between the AIFF and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the ISL's organizers. This impasse had led FSDL to put the 2025-26 season "on hold" in July 2025, causing clubs to pause first-team operations and suspend player and staff salaries, with some even threatening to shut down. The Supreme Court had to intervene, asking AIFF and FSDL to resolve the MRA issue. The crisis is also intertwined with controversies surrounding promotion and relegation. The 2024-25 I-League season, for instance, saw a dramatic legal battle over its champion between Churchill Brothers and Inter Kashi, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) eventually ruling in favor of Inter Kashi. These systemic issues, including a FIFA suspension of AIFF in 2022 due to third-party interference, highlight a history of governance challenges in Indian football. Despite the institutional pause triggered by the IMC's suspension, the ISL clubs have reaffirmed their commitment to engaging constructively with the AIFF to ensure stability. However, their firm message is that no binding decisions will be accepted without documented majority backing. As the football begins on February 14, 2026, the governance questions remain far from settled, casting a shadow over the highly anticipated season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Read Full Story on Quick Digest