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New Delhi, July 16 (ANS) Bengaluru FC captain Sunil Chhetri took to social media to relay a message of hope after the future of the Indian Super League hung in the balance, urging the Indian football ecosystem to stay strong and face the storm together.\n
Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the IMG Reliance subsidiary that organises the Indian Super League (ISL), has put the upcoming 2025-26 season of ISL on hold because of the stalled negotiations over extending its deal with the All-India Football Federation (AIFF).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In a letter to the participant clubs, FSDL informed that it is forced to put ISL 2025-26 on hold because it is \"unable to effectively plan, organise, or commercialise the 2025\u201326 ISL season\" because no agreement has been reached regarding the Master Rights Agreement (MRA), which was to expire on December 8, 2025, with the AIFF.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With no start to the season scheduled, clubs were forced to postpone their pre-season plans, which also prompted a few ISL clubs to pull out of the storied Durand Cup. Chhetri revealed how the message, which originally made him happy, has now become a cause for concern.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen my phone went off a few weeks ago informing us of a delay in pre-season by a fortnight, I must admit it made me smile. And that\u2019s because I was on vacation, hadn\u2019t moved as much as I would have liked to, and hadn\u2019t been eating as clean as I usually do. I had more time than I had bargained for to get in shape.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThat \u2018fortnight\u2019 has now changed to 'indefinitely' and that smile\u2019s been wiped out. It began with worrying about how I am on borrowed time with what I have left in the tank. But speaking with players from across clubs, I\u2019ve realised that my selfish problem isn\u2019t as important<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe current situation that Indian football finds itself in, is very concerning. I\u2019ve received a flurry of texts from players, staff members, physios, masseurs \u2013 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,\u201d posted Chhetri on \u2018X\u2019<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, despite the uncertainty, Chhetri showed optimism that the governing bodies involved will fix the situation sooner rather than later.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe current situation that Indian football finds itself in, is very concerning. I\u2019ve received a flurry of texts from players, staff members, physios, masseurs \u2013 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,\u201d posted Chhetri on \u2018X\u2019<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI may not have all the answers, but my message to all those involved with Indian football \u2013 and more importantly the ones whose livelihood depends on it, the players, staff, kitmen, masseurs, medical teams, production crews, operations staff \u2013 please stay calm. We\u2019ll ride this storm together. Stick together and look out for each other. Keep training and getting better. Football has to resume soon. It will,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n