ISL set to restart on February 14 after government intervention; I-League also resumes

India’s premier football competition, the Indian Super League, will return to action on February 14, after months on hold due to a commercial deadlock. The announcement was made on Tuesday by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya following a high-level meeting involving the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and club representatives.

The move brings immediate relief to players and supporters after widespread concern that the domestic season could be cancelled altogether.

What was decided

Mandaviya confirmed that all clubs will feature in the tournament. Senior officials from the AIFF and representatives from 14 clubs, including Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, were present at the meeting that finalised the restart.

AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey later said the I-League, which had also been paused, would be conducted “around the same time”, with all 11 clubs taking part.

Format and match load

The ISL is scheduled to run as a home-and-away league with 91 matches, with final logistics currently being worked out.
The I-League will be a shortened competition featuring 55 matches.

How the season will be funded

To ensure the leagues go ahead despite the absence of a commercial partner, the AIFF has arranged interim financing.

Chaubey said a ₹25 crore central pool has been created solely for conducting the ISL. Of this:
• 10 percent will be contributed by the AIFF.
• 30 percent, originally expected from a commercial partner, will now also be covered by the federation.

In total, the AIFF will contribute ₹14 crore for the ISL and approximately ₹3.2 crore for the I-League until a new commercial rights partner is appointed.

He also announced that a Governing Council Board will be set up to manage the leagues and will be empowered to take all commercial decisions going forward.

Why the league was on hold

The ISL 2025–26 season was suspended after a dispute between the AIFF and its former commercial partner Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), owned by the Reliance Group. The conflict centred on the Master Rights Agreement (MRA), which expired on December 8, 2025, after negotiations collapsed.

Subsequently, the AIFF issued a tender for a new commercial rights partner under the supervision of a Supreme Court-appointed committee, but the process failed to attract any bidders, intensifying fears of a prolonged shutdown.

Why this matters for Indian football

The ISL is the country’s flagship professional league, providing livelihoods for hundreds of players and staff and serving as the main pathway to the national team. Its suspension had stalled player contracts, disrupted club finances, and threatened grassroots development.

The government-backed restart restores competitive continuity and preserves the domestic calendar at a time when fan confidence and sponsor interest were under strain.

What to watch next

• Whether the AIFF can finalise a new commercial rights partner in the coming months.
• How the newly formed Governing Council Board reshapes league management.
• Whether the compressed schedule impacts player workload, injuries, and broadcast plans.