Will ISL have Relegation Next Season? AIFF supremo Kalyan Chaubey Reveals

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The Indian Super League is set to have 13 teams next season. After the promotion of Mohammedan SC from the I-League, the top-flight Indian football league adds to its firepower.

Amid the positivity of promotion, a league can only grow if there is relegation added to it as well. The intensity of any domestic league enhances with relegation and its associated ebbs and flows of an entire season.

But as we prepare for the ISL next season, will the clubs stay in their comfortable shape without relegation threat or there will be an introduction of relegation?

The initial plans were to introduce relegation from the 2024-25 ISL season, but AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey recently conceded the fact that he is in no position to confirm the relegation status of ISL next season.

"I am not in a position to comment on the relegation part as of now, but I am happy that at least we have promotion. I understand, because of the format, if a franchise gets relegated, then there won't be much motivation for the team to continue in the I-League," Chaubey was quoted as saying by Times of India.

"ISL franchises invest heavily, and they know they are there with long-term plans. ISL is not ready for relegation, unless the I-League raises its bar. It will take some more time. There should be a minimum gap between the two leagues," he added.

The AIFF president was present at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata to hand over Mohammedan SC their I-League trophy, but avoided the question regarding relegation.

It is only natural that the franchises won't welcome relegation for their revenue purposes. But the onus is on AIFF to introduce it to enhance competition in Indian football.