Sunil Chhetri is scared about the current condition of Indian football: 'Everybody in the ecosystem is worried'

Indian football legend and national team captain Sunil Chhetri has published a heartfelt and prompt appeal, expressing deep concerns over the current uncertainty haunting the Indian Super League (ISL) and nation’s footballing ecosystem.

Amid legal battles and shared words between Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) and the All India Football Federation (AIFF), which have thrown the Indian Super League (ISL) into uncertainty, Chhetri’s words have resonated across clubs, fans, and sporting authorities.

“The current situation that Indian football finds itself in, is very concerning,” Chhetri shared on his X (formerly Twitter) post.

“I’ve received a flurry of texts from players, staff members, physios, masseurs – not just from my club, but from other clubs as well.

“Everybody in the Indian football ecosystem is worried, hurt, scared about the uncertainty we are faced with,” he added.

Sunil urges everyone to stay calm

“I may not have all the answers, but my message to all those involved with Indian football – and more importantly the ones whose livelihood depends on it, the players, staff, kitmen, masseurs, medical teams, production crews, operations staff – please stay calm.”

“We’ll ride this storm together. Stick together and look out for each other. Keep training and getting better. Football has to resume soon. It will,” Chhetri shared.

Will ISL 2025-26 take place?

Well, even if Sunil Chhetri assures you about football resuming soon, it is not that simple, and Sunil himself knows this.

The unresolved disputes between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) are very far from over. Moreover, after the Supreme Court’s involvement, the renewal of Master Rights Agreement (MRA) is paused.

So, at the moment, the ISL, India’s Premier Football Competition, is “ON HOLD.”

Although Sunil has been very polite about the choice of words in his social media post, his former teammate and national team captain Bhaichung Bhutia even went on to call AIFF a “circus.”

Possible resolutions

Now, how can this cloud over Indian football be cleared?

On the one hand, the performance of the Men’s team has been pathetic, and now if ISL gets put on hold, Indian football will go at least two decades behind.

And, do not confuse it with the performance of the Indian Women’s team and the Indian Women's League (IWL). Because the whole show is different.

So, here are a few possible things which can happen in Indian football (men’s) at the moment.

• FSDL agrees to continue giving AIFF INR 50 crore a year to have the rights of ISL
• FSDL and the ISL clubs, along with AIFF, form a separate company where FSDL and ISL clubs have more say and power to run the league.
• FSDL and AIFF agree on different terms, whether AIFF agrees to take less money or FSDL demands something else.
• ISL is scrapped off, and we are back to I-League days.

In a recent development, Hindustan Times has reported that AIFF are willing to renew the MRA with FSDL in the following ways:

• AIFF are prepared to give FSDL a 10-year agreement to run ISL with a clear calendar window
• FSDL will also be given full commercial freedom.
• ISL champions will take the top spot in AFC competitions.
• I-League winners will take the second spot in AFC competitions.
• AIFF wants an annual payment to the game development fund of ₹50 crore or 10 per cent of the total league revenue in 2026, which is higher.

But, before everything AIFF wants to plan and implement, they will have to wait for the Supreme Court's orders. And, along with AIFF, Sunil Chhetri and everyone associated with Indian football will also have to wait.