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NEW DELHI: Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday announced that the Indian Super League (ISL), which had been on hold due to the absence of a commercial partner, will kick off on February 14, bringing an end to a crisis that stalled Indian football for nearly six months.

The ISL, traditionally held from September, will see all 14 clubs in action, including Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, who had earlier opposed the financial model proposed by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

The second-tier I-League, which was also paused for similar reasons, will be staged “around the same time” with all 11 clubs participating.

"There was lot of speculation regarding ISL but today government, the football federation and all 14 clubs, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal included, had a meeting and we have decided that the ISL will start on February 14. All clubs will participate," Mandaviya announced in a brief statement, flanked by CEOs of ISL clubs.

AIFF outlines structure and funding model

Also present at the long-awaited resolution meeting was embattled AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, who elaborated on the framework after the minister’s announcement.

The top-tier ISL will feature 91 matches on a home-and-away basis, with logistical details still being finalised.

"That part will be figured out by the clubs in the next few weeks," Chaubey said.

The I-League, meanwhile, will be conducted in a shortened format comprising 55 matches.

Financial backing in absence of commercial partner

"A Rs 25 crore central pool has been made for only the conduct of the ISL. 10 percent of this fund will come from AIFF, 30 percent was to come from a commercial partner but since we don't have one right now, the AIFF will pitch in with that contribution," Chaubey said.

"In all, the AIFF will give Rs 14 crore for ISL and about Rs 3.2 crore for I League till we find a commercial partner. The rest of the fund will come through the legacy participating clubs. Hopefully we will find a commercial partner soon," he added.

"In case, we face any difficulty, the government will also step in to assist us," he stated.

Chaubey added that a Governing Council Board will eventually be formed to oversee the leagues and will be “empowered to take all commercial decisions.”

The ISL 2025–26 season had been in limbo since July after the AIFF’s commercial partner, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), owned by the Reliance Group, put the league on hold amid uncertainty surrounding the Master Rights Agreement (MRA).

The MRA expired on December 8, 2025 after negotiations between the two parties failed.

Subsequently, a tender was floated to appoint a new commercial rights partner under the supervision of a Supreme Court-appointed committee, but the process yielded no bidders, adding to the AIFF’s troubles.

"All six leagues of Indian football, including I-League 2, 3 will commence along with the Indian Women's League (top division and second division)," Chaubey said.

Footballers distressed

The prolonged deadlock had left footballers deeply unsettled and on Friday, senior figures including Sunil Chhetri, along with several overseas ISL players, called for intervention from world governing body FIFA.

With the 2025–26 ISL season yet to begin, senior national team members such as Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Sandhesh Jhingan raised concerns over the extended uncertainty, warning that Indian football was heading towards “permanent paralysis”.

Amid the uncertainty, several foreign players departed their ISL clubs, while City Football Group — owners of English Premier League side Manchester City — exited their stake in Mumbai City FC.

Despite the confirmation of the ISL start date, it is almost certain that clubs will be unable to fulfil the mandatory requirement of 24 matches — including league and domestic cup games — to qualify for the AFC Champions League 2.

In response, ISL clubs have urged the AIFF to approach the Asian Football Confederation for a one-time relaxation in the minimum match requirement to ensure participation in the ACL 2.

(With PTI Inputs)