Klub ISL Ancam Tinjau Ulang Partisipasi dalam Liga India

Lima klub Indian Super League (ISL) mengancam akan meninjau kembali partisipasi mereka dalam kompetisi akibat ketidakjelasan masa depan struktural dan komersial sepak bola India pada Jumat, 23 Mei 2026.

Pernyataan bersama tersebut dirilis melalui unggahan media sosial Instagram di tengah konflik internal antara All India Football Federation (AIFF) dan mitra papan atas, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL).

"With deep concern and disappointment, the clubs of the Indian Super League wish to state that, given the continued uncertainty surrounding professional football in India, we are now compelled to review the extent of our commitment to the league beyond the current season," bunyi pernyataan tertulis kelompok klub ISL.

Klub-klub menegaskan bahwa investasi besar telah mereka kucurkan untuk membangun ekosistem sepak bola di India meskipun harus menghadapi berbagai tantangan operasional yang berat.

"Our clubs have consistently invested in Indian football, often in difficult and uncertain circumstances, and remain deeply committed to its future. However, the continued absence of structural certainty, commercial clarity and long-term visibility has made it increasingly difficult to justify the financial and operational commitments required to compete sustainably," tambah pihak klub.

Meskipun melihat potensi besar dalam industri sepak bola domestik, jajaran manajemen klub mengaku frustrasi terhadap ekosistem yang dinilai tidak memberikan kepastian bagi para investor.

"Indian football has the foundation to be far greater than it is today. It is therefore disappointing that those who have built, funded, promoted and sustained the league continue to face uncertainty over the very structure within which they are expected to operate," lanjut pernyataan tersebut.

Sebagai solusi, pihak klub telah mengajukan draf perumusan model kompetisi alternatif yang berbasis pada pembagian nilai ekonomi yang lebih adil dan berkelanjutan bagi seluruh pemangku kepentingan.

"At the heart of Indian football's future must be a financially sustainable league. The clubs have proposed an alternative model which we believe is credible, constructive and worthy of being evaluated on merit, alongside any other proposal before the AIFF. We urge the AIFF to acknowledge the realities faced by those funding and operating the league, and work collaboratively towards a framework that is sustainable, inclusive and built with all stakeholders in mind," desak perwakilan klub.

Di sisi lain, kondisi finansial klub-klub saat ini dilaporkan sangat tertekan dengan adanya kebijakan pemotongan gaji, penundaan pembayaran, pemutusan kontrak, hingga pembekuan operasi klub.

"Owners know that it is impossible to breakeven but they would at least like to be told there is light at the end of the tunnel, however long that tunnel is," ujar seorang CEO klub yang meminta identitasnya dirahasiakan seperti dilansir dari Hindustan Times.

Ketidakpastian regulasi musim depan juga berimbas pada hengkangnya sejumlah staf kepelatihan asing yang merasa tidak mendapatkan jaminan masa depan profesi yang jelas di India.

"the lack of clarity about the next season is why he would be stepping away," kata Oscar Bruzon, pelatih East Bengal.

Krisis regulasi ini diperparah oleh penolakan internal di tubuh AIFF terkait rencana penyelenggaraan Sidang Umum Luar Biasa (SGM) untuk mengubah konstitusi liga agar selaras dengan Undang-Undang Tata Kelola Olahraga Nasional 2025.

“…the AIFF despite adopting the said Constitution as directed by Hon’ble Supreme Court … has called for a SGM without filling the vacancies for eminent sportspersons and thus is in violation both of its own Constitution and also in contempt of the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court,” cetus Valanka Alemao, anggota komite eksekutif AIFF dalam nota hukumnya.

Valanka Alemao menegaskan bahwa agenda besar perombakan organisasi sepak bola nasional tersebut tidak sah apabila tidak memenuhi kuorum minimal anggota dewan jenderal yang telah ditetapkan hukum.

“…the SGM cannot be held without completing the quorum of general body members as per Article 20 of the AIFF Constitution (as approved by the Hon’ble Supreme Court). The AIFF through its Constitution expressly mandates that the Eminent Player representatives should be elected from the National Players Association constituted as per Schedule IV. Furthermore, Coaches’ and Referees’ Representatives are required to be elected through a procedure governed by the AIFF Election Committee,” papar Valanka Alemao.

Pertemuan tingkat tinggi antara pejabat teras AIFF dan para pemilik klub ISL dijadwalkan berlangsung guna membahas penawaran hak komersial baru dari Genius Sports senilai Rp64,4 miliar per tahun.

"The clubs once again said they had not been provided detailed financial projections, revenue assumptions or long-term modelling over the Genius Sports-led model. The UK-based company has bid Rs 64.4 crore annually with 5% increase for the rights of the ISL and the Federation Cup," demikian dilaporkan oleh Times of India.