Sunil Chhetri & Sandesh Jhingan Lead Players’ Plea to Restart ISL

Description :

Veteran stars Sunil Chhetri and Sandesh Jhingan join a joint player appeal calling on the AIFF and ISL stakeholders to urgently kick-start the suspended season amid commercial rights deadlock.

Published on:

14 November 2025 | 10:30 AM (GMT+05:30, IST, India)
Published by: Mr. Dibakar Mandal

Introduction

India’s football fraternity has reached a critical moment. Two of the country’s most celebrated players, Sunil Chhetri and Sandesh Jhingan, have stepped forward with an emotional public call: “we want to play, and now.” This plea comes amidst a deepening crisis for the Indian Super League, where clubs stand idle, ballparks sit empty and months of planning hang in limbo. With the season’s commercial rights tender having attracted no bids, the top-tier league is suspended indefinitely. Chhetri and Jhingan, speaking for a broader group of players, warn that the stalemate is not just about sport—it is about livelihoods, dreams, and the future of Indian football. Their message is direct: the clock is ticking, and the game cannot wait.

Details Info

The Indian Super League, launched in 2014, has been the flagship professional football competition in India. Over the years it has grown in stature, drawn marquee names, secured broadcasting deals and formed the backbone of India’s domestic football ecosystem. However, the current season has been derailed by a commercial crisis. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) floated a new tender for the ISL’s commercial and media rights in October 2025, but came back with zero bids. That failure has sent shockwaves through clubs, players and sponsors. With no broadcast partner secured, budgets cut, planning disrupted and training camps paused, the ecosystem sits on hold. Clubs such as the Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Kerala Blasters FC have halted operations; players are left in uncertainty; sponsors are on standby. In this context, the united player appeal stands out—not just as a call for action—but as a signal of the depth of the crisis in Indian football’s professional tier.

The Players’ Unified Appeal

In a joint statement shared across social media platforms, Chhetri and Jhingan, along with other ISL players, laid bare the emotional and career consequences of the impasse. As reported:

“Our anger, frustration and distress has now been replaced by desperation… This is a plea to all those involved in running our sport in the country, to do whatever it takes to get the football season underway. India needs its competitive football now more than ever.”
They emphasised that their training, contracts, futures and fans are one postponement away from collapse. Jhingan added: “We’ve found ourselves in a very dark tunnel for long. We could do with a little light.”

Impact on Clubs, Players and Staff

The commercial rights issue is not just a corporate contract glitch—it threatens the very structure of professional football in India. Without a rights partner:

• Clubs cannot secure broadcast revenue, sponsorship deals or operational budgets.
• Players’ contracts, salaries and training programmes are in limbo.
• Support staff, matchday crews and youth academy systems face uncertainty.
  With top clubs suspending training and delaying salary payments, the appeal from veteran players is both urgent and rooted in real financial anxiety.

Why the Rights Deadlock Matters

The ISL’s commercial rights are the financial lifeblood of the league: broadcast deals, sponsorship contracts, merchandising, venue fees and club licensing all rely on a central partner. Because the AIFF’s tender failed to attract bidders, the league lacks a core revenue stream. Stakeholders cite reasons including: perceived insufficient ROI for investors; uncertainty around league governance and promotion-relegation; and broader fatigue in sports marketing. Without a rights deal, the next season cannot start under normal operations.

Governance, Business Model and Stakeholder Trust

This crisis shines a spotlight on deeper structural issues:

• Club licensing and financial sustainability models need overhaul.
• The governance of AIFF and ISL management frameworks are under scrutiny.
• Player welfare and contract protection protocols are tested.
• Long-term growth models—from grassroots to broadcasting—are at risk.
  The player plea underscores that when the system falters, even the top talent feels sidelined and insecure.

What Could Happen Next?

Potential responses include:

• AIFF reopening the tender with revised, more flexible terms.
• Interim funding or guarantee from government or other sports bodies to keep clubs functioning.
• Player negotiating frameworks or contract protections introduced to mitigate disruptions.
• A shorter, interim league format to resume play quickly and restore momentum.
  However, delay risks further disruption: loss of fan faith, sponsor withdrawal, player exits and shrinking media attention.

Conclusion

When stars like Sunil Chhetri and Sandesh Jhingan publicly plea for a league’s restart, the warning lights are flashing. The ISL is more than annual competition—it powers India’s football ambition, club ecosystem and player development. The current pause is no mere scheduling glitch—it is a crisis of confidence and continuity. Time is short. If Indian football does not act decisively, the damage may not be reversible. The players are ready—they simply want to play.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why are Sunil Chhetri and Sandesh Jhingan issuing a public plea now?
They and their player-colleagues face indefinite delay of the season, training halts, contracts in doubt and career momentum stalled. Their plea is to prompt action and bring attention to their predicament.

2. What triggered the ISL season suspension?
The All India Football Federation’s tender for commercial rights attracted no bids, leaving the league without a broadcast and sponsorship partner. That interrupted club operations, planning and funding.

3. What are the immediate risks to players and clubs?
Unpaid salaries, training facility closures, contract extensions in doubt, youth programmes scaled back and loss of fan engagement—all of which threaten the long-term health of clubs and player careers.

4. What solutions are being proposed?
Options include reopening the rights tender under relaxed terms, interim financial support for clubs, rapid-fire mini-tournaments to resume play, and enhanced governance reforms for the league.

5. Why does the ISL matter for Indian football?
It is the top-tier professional league; it supports talent pipelines, drives club viability, attracts investment, engages fans, and helps build India’s performance on the international stage. Its disruption has ripple effects across the entire football ecosystem.

External Resources and References

• Times of India – ‘We just want to play’: Indian football stars issue plea to restart ISL season
• India Today – Sunil Chhetri leads footballers’ plea for ISL restart: ‘Anger turns to desperation’
• Moneycontrol – Sunil Chhetri to Sandesh Jhingan: Indian footballers issue plea urging AIFF to resolve ISL deadlock, restart season
• The Telegraph India – ‘In a very dark tunnel for a long time’: Indian footballers unite in plea to revive ISL
• Economic Times – Players want a quick resolution to the current controversy: Sandesh Jhingan on ISL crisis