ISL Crisis: 150 Players Out Of Contract As League’s Future Goes Into Limbo

Nearly 150 Indian Super League players have seen contracts expire. More than 20 have been with the national team recently. Their deals ended on Sunday amid confusion over the league’s future. A stand-off between the All India Football Federation and ISL clubs continues.

The 2025-26 ISL season was delayed and then shortened. Fourteen teams played a single round-robin league. There was no home and away format. This followed the Master Rights Agreement ending in December. That pact involved AIFF and former commercial partners FSDL.

With contracts ending, all affected players are now free agents. Any team can sign them during the next window. The AIFF has fixed June 12 as the registration start date. The window will run till August 31 for all clubs.

India captain Sandesh Jhingan is among the players out of contract. He last played for FC Goa. Defender Rahul Bheke, from Bengaluru FC, is also affected. Both are recent India internationals. Their next contracts may depend on how the league is shaped.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant finished runners-up in the recent season. The club plans to seek clarity from AIFF. Officials want to know if the next ISL will be full. They also ask if another shortened league is likely before fixing budgets.

“We will ask the AIFF how they will conduct ISL and make our budget accordingly,” a Mohun Bagan Super Giant source said. The club is set to release foreign players Tom Aldred, Dimitri Petratos and Jason Cummings before new signings.

A former official warned that players may suffer the most. He said clubs will also face financial strain. “It’s a grim situation in the ISL and Indian football as a whole. The players will be the worst sufferers,” the official said, quoted by PTI.

The official said free agency may weaken bargaining power. He felt clubs could offer lower fees during talks. He also pointed to lost transfer fees. Many clubs might miss income from sales. He said that would leave some of them poorer.

The official flagged concerns for players from the northeast. He highlighted many from Manipur and Mizoram. Many moved to ISL clubs to support families. He feared uncertainty over new contracts. He said this may hit those players and households very hard.

Debate over a new commercial partner remains unresolved. Genius Sports was top bidder in March. It offered Rs 2,129 crore yearly for 15+5 years. Clubs now want Genius only as a data and technology partner. They also propose a different financial structure.

ISL clubs propose keeping 90 per cent economic interest themselves. They want the AIFF to hold the remaining share. A Kolkata meeting between clubs and AIFF leaders last month ended without agreement. The dispute over future control and revenue sharing therefore continues.

During a Special General Body Meeting in Kolkata, members discussed the new Master Rights Agreement. They decided the Executive Committee will study fresh offers. However, any final choice on a commercial partner must be taken later. That role lies with the AIFF General Body.