AIFF gives ISL clubs commercial rights for 2026-27 season

The All India Football Federation has reached a landmark agreement with the 14 clubs of the Indian Super League, ending months of uncertainty by handing over the league's commercial rights to the clubs for a four-year period. The deal, announced at a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday, establishes a new club-led commercial model while the AIFF retains administrative control, paving the way for a full 2026-27 season scheduled to begin on September 4.

Under the new structure, the clubs will manage sponsorship, marketing, and broadcast rights through a newly formed private company, or Special Purpose Vehicle. Each club will pay an administrative fee to the AIFF, which will oversee refereeing, legal, anti-doping, and integrity matters. Profits from commercial operations will be split, with 90 percent going to the clubs and 10 percent to the federation. The agreement includes a unilateral exit option for the clubs after two years, though officials expressed confidence it would run its full term.

The announcement resolves a period of severe disruption for India's top-tier football competition. The previous marketing agreement with Football Sports Development Limited expired in...