Indian football faces fresh crisis as ISL future hangs in the balance

Once hailed by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter as a "sleeping giant", Indian football now finds itself in deep turmoil, grappling with systemic issues from grassroots development to the highest levels of the game.

The men's national team is currently without a head coach, while the Indian Super League (ISL) – the country's premier football competition – is on the brink of collapse due to an unresolved dispute between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its commercial partner, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL).

"Everybody in the Indian football ecosystem is worried, hurt, scared about the uncertainty we are faced with," veteran striker Sunil Chhetri wrote on X, expressing the growing concern around the ISL's future.

Chhetri, who briefly retired from international football in March at the age of 40, returned to the national fold due to the lack of emerging talent. With 95 international goals, he sits just behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Ali Daei on the all-time scoring charts. However, his return underscores a worrying dearth of youth prospects in Indian football.

Currently ranked 133rd by FIFA – their lowest standing in nearly a decade – India have won just one of their last 16 matches. Spaniard Manolo Marquez, the most recent head coach, stepped down this month after only one year in charge and a solitary win in eight games. His tenure ended with a 1-0 defeat to Hong Kong in Asian Cup qualifying – a nation of just 7.5 million compared to India's 1.4 billion.

Uncertainty grips the ISL

The ISL typically runs from September to April, but its future now hangs in the balance. The AIFF's commercial agreement with FSDL expires on 8 December and has yet to be renewed, leaving the upcoming season in limbo. This uncertainty affects more than 5,000 players, coaches, support staff and others connected to the league.

Despite the crisis, AIFF national teams director and former India captain Subrata Paul remains optimistic. "Indian football, like any growing ecosystem, will face its share of challenges and transitions," he told AFP. "I see this as a time to pause, reflect and refocus... it's an opportunity to strengthen our foundation by investing in youth development, infrastructure and quality coaching."

Launched in 2014, the ISL aimed to revitalise Indian football by attracting global names such as Italy's Alessandro Del Piero. Yet instead of flourishing, the league has seen declining television ratings and dwindling sponsorship interest in recent years.

Global support and grassroots concerns

The international football community has long shown interest in India's potential as the world's most populous nation. In 2023, former Arsenal manager and current FIFA head of global football development Arsène Wenger visited India to inaugurate a football academy.

AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey – a politician with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party – met with Wenger again last month. According to Chaubey, Wenger stressed the importance of starting football training much earlier in India. "He believes beginning at 13, as is currently common here, is far too late – players should start by the age of eight," said Chaubey.

While India have never qualified for a FIFA World Cup, they once enjoyed modest international success, qualifying for four Olympic Games between 1948 and 1960. Their best performance came in 1956 when they finished fourth in Melbourne.

Yet, the "sleeping giant" remains in a prolonged slumber.

Allegations of mismanagement

Football remains a distant third in popularity behind cricket and hockey in India, with strongholds limited to areas like Kolkata and Kerala. Long-standing mismanagement has also plagued the sport, according to veteran sports journalist Jaydeep Basu.

"The fact that the team, ranked 99 in September 2023, has now dropped to 133 shows poor management," Basu told AFP. He further alleged that a small group within the AIFF is running operations for personal gain. "There is a caucus of two or three people in the AIFF who are running the show for their own benefit," said Basu, who recently published the book Who Stole My Football?

AFP has approached the AIFF for a response.