Panaji: The uncertainty surrounding Indian football is expected to end with the Supreme Court directing the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to take necessary measures for start of the season and issue tenders inviting bids for new commercial partners.In April this year, Supreme Court had directed the AIFF “not to enter into any binding contracts till the judgment (on the draft constitution) is pronounced.”The direction brought football to a standstill since the AIFF’s 15-year contract with FSDL, its marketing partners, was to end in December this year. The next edition of the top-tier Indian Super League (ISL) was then kept on hold, prompting three clubs to suspend player salaries. Six others have not yet started pre-season training.On the directions of the Supreme Court, AIFF and FSDL then came up with a consensual resolution which the court felt was “compelling and necessary” to break the impasse.“We direct AIFF to take such measures as may be necessary for timely commencement of football calendar and to maintain competitive continuity for the 2025-2026 season with respect to Super Cup and other competitions under its control,” the Supreme Court said in an order on Tuesday.The apex court also asked AIFF to “issue tenders inviting bids for open, competitive and transparent process for selection of its commercial partner to conduct Indian Super League.”The order issued on Tuesday does not prohibit AIFF from seeking long-term commercial partners, neither does it make a mention of fresh elections, despite arguments from senior lawyers that the “present committee was elected for three months but now it’s been three years.”Former Justice (Retd.) L. Nageswara Rao has been appointed to ensure that the selection process “enures in identifying a competent, reputed and an efficient firm as a commercial partner to conduct ISL, in line with global best practices.”“The Supreme Court order comes as a huge relief for Indian football and we can now begin work on commencing the season,” AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey told TOI on Tuesday. “For some months now, player salaries were on hold and there was uncertainty too with clubs hesitant to even start pre-season. Now the road is clear. AIFF will ensure that players get enough competitive matches, starting with the Super Cup.”Meanwhile, AIFF is anxiously waiting for the final order on the all-important constitution, a case which is pending in the apex court since 2017, when the court directed formulation of a new constitution.
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FIFA has given AIFF a deadline of October 30 to secure a definitive order from the Supreme Court approving the revised AIFF constitution and then get it ratified by the general body. Failure to adhere to its obligation, “may result in sanctions outlined in the FIFA and AFC Statutes, including the possibility of suspension.”
