Sunil Chhetri
AIFF intervenes to run stalled ISL after players' FIFA plea
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Following prominent Indian footballers' urgent video appeal to FIFA over the Indian Super League's (ISL) 2025-26 crisis, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced on January 3, 2026, that it would directly conduct the delayed season, offering relief amid stalled negotiations for a commercial partner.
Prominent Indian footballers, including Sunil Chhetri and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, have issued a joint video appeal to FIFA for urgent intervention to rescue Indian football from administrative paralysis. The Indian Super League's 2025-26 season remains stalled due to the All India Football Federation's failure to secure a commercial partner. Players describe the situation as a humanitarian, sporting, and economic crisis, with livelihoods at stake.