AIFF advances governance reform as ISL decision is delayed

The All India Football Federation has approved a revised constitution aligned with India’s new sports governance legislation while postponing a decision on the future commercial and operating structure of the Indian Super League.The AIFF has also proposed changing its name to the Football Federation of Bharat, although the rebrand requires government and FIFA approval before it can take effect.AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey said: “This proposal will be sent to the sports ministry. It’s a process, and the process began today.“If the ministry does not approve, or if they have any other opinion, then there is no question. If the ministry approves, then we will bring it to the general body. Then, we will send it to FIFA.”The proposed name change was accepted at a virtual special general body meeting but is not yet final. The federation will continue operating as the AIFF during the approval process.A rebrand would affect the governing body’s identity across international competitions, commercial agreements, digital platforms, national-team assets and relationships with FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation.The proposal has also generated criticism from parts of the Indian football community, with some supporters questioning whether a name change should be prioritised during a period of uncertainty around the professional league system.Further debate followed reports that the federation wanted the national anthem and Vande Mataram played before official matches in India. Critics have argued that administrative stability, league governance and football development should remain the governing body’s primary focus.The more immediate commercial issue is the operating model for the ISL, which is scheduled to begin its 2026–27 season on September 4.The AIFF did not ratify a proposed club-led structure at the meeting and is expected to continue discussions with the ISL managing committee, which includes club and federation representatives.Under the plan being considered, a separate entity would operate the league with clubs taking a leading role in its governance. The AIFF would retain responsibility for regulatory, logistical and competition functions.The proposed model would run for four years and provide the federation with an annual payment reportedly worth about ₹16 crore.Such a structure would mark a significant change in Indian football’s commercial governance by giving participating clubs greater influence over league strategy, revenues, marketing and operations.It could also provide a short-term solution following the end of the AIFF’s previous long-term commercial arrangement with Football Sports Development Limited, which played a central role in launching and operating the ISL.The federation has separately been assessing bids for a new master rights agreement. Genius Sports is among the parties involved in that process, but a final commercial partner has not been appointed.Delaying the club-led decision leaves limited preparation time before the September 4 start date. Clubs need clarity on central revenues, broadcast production, sponsorship sales, competition costs and decision-making authority before completing their budgets.A club-led entity could give teams a stronger incentive to invest in the competition’s collective commercial growth, but its effectiveness would depend on governance protections and an agreed distribution model.Larger clubs with stronger sponsorship, ticketing and digital revenues may favour greater commercial freedom, while smaller teams are likely to seek guarantees around central distributions and financial sustainability.The AIFF would also need to preserve its regulatory independence if it receives annual payments from an entity controlled principally by the clubs it oversees.The constitutional reforms approved by the general body are intended to bring the federation into line with the National Sports Governance Act 2025.The legislation is designed to increase transparency, accountability and institutional oversight across India’s national sports bodies. The AIFF had previously voted unanimously to adopt the act in May.Implementation could affect the federation’s election procedures, executive structure, eligibility requirements and relationship with its state associations.An election panel has also been approved as the AIFF prepares for its next leadership process under the revised governance framework.The changes follow several years of legal and administrative instability in Indian football, including court involvement in the federation’s constitution and a brief FIFA suspension in 2022.Greater constitutional certainty could improve confidence among clubs, investors, sponsors and media groups, but commercial stakeholders will also want evidence that the new framework can produce faster and more predictable decisions.The ISL timetable adds urgency because uncertainty over league management has already affected clubs’ ability to plan recruitment, sponsorship and operations.The Durand Cup is expected to begin around the end of July, leaving a relatively short transition between the domestic cup competition and the opening of the ISL season.The AIFF’s next discussions will therefore be more commercially consequential than the proposed rebrand. Agreement on the club-led model would determine who operates India’s leading football competition and how its costs and revenues are shared.The federation must now seek approval for the Football Federation of Bharat name while reaching a final ISL operating agreement before clubs begin the 2026–27 season on September 4.