New Delhi, September 1, 2025 – The Supreme Court of India has stepped in once again to ensure Indian football’s smooth functioning. The Court directed the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to take necessary steps for the timely commencement of the 2025-26 football season and maintain competitive continuity.
The order came after concerns were raised about the uncertainty surrounding the Indian Super League (ISL) and other tournaments due to pending decisions between AIFF and its commercial partner, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL).
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- The Court noted that the Master Rights Agreement between AIFF and FSDL, signed in December 2010, will expire in December 2025.
- Because of contractual restrictions, AIFF and FSDL had delayed finalizing arrangements for the upcoming season, leading to uncertainty about ISL and other leagues.
- On August 22, 2025, the Court directed AIFF and FSDL to arrive at a consensual resolution. Following this, both parties met in Bengaluru on August 25 and submitted a joint proposal.
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Agreed Framework Between AIFF and FSDL
- Season Kick-off with Super Cup: The 2025-26 season will begin with the Super Cup, a domestic tournament under AIFF’s control, to keep clubs and players competitively engaged until the league begins.
- Transparent Process for ISL Rights: AIFF committed to conducting an open and competitive tender to select a commercial partner for ISL, in line with the National Sports Development Code, the new National Sports Governance Act 2025, and FIFA/AFC regulations.
- The process will be managed by a reputed independent professional firm.
- The tender will be completed by October 15, 2025, ensuring clarity for clubs, sponsors, and broadcasters.
- FSDL’s Role
- FSDL agreed to waive its contractual Right of First Negotiation and Right to Match.
- It also issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to AIFF for the open tender process.
- Additionally, FSDL confirmed payment of its rights fee of ₹12.5 crore for July–September 2025 and agreed to advance the October–December tranche if required.
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The Bench of Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice Joymalya Bagchi praised the collaborative framework. The order stated:
“This collaborative effort is a significant step in the evolution of Indian football. This shared commitment will go a long way in institutionalising domestic, national and international events.”
The Court appointed Justice L. Nageswara Rao, former Supreme Court judge, to oversee the tender process for selecting the new ISL commercial partner.
The Court also noted that AIFF’s draft constitution is largely in line with the new National Sports Governance Act, though concerns were raised about autonomy by lawyers including Rahul Mehra, Menaka Guruswamy, and Raghenth Basant. The matter will be further considered before the Court finalizes its decision on AIFF’s constitution.
Case Title: All India Football Federation vs. Rahul Mehra & Ors.
Date of Order: September 1, 2025
