Klub ISL Boikot Kompetisi Menyusul Ketidakpastian Finansial Sepak Bola 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, 22 Mei 2026.

Langkah bersama yang dirilis melalui media sosial Instagram ini dipicu oleh ketegangan kontraktual antara All India Football Federation (AIFF) dan mitra dewan, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL).

Krisis komersial mencuat setelah klub-klub kontestan menolak tawaran sponsor hak siar senilai 64,4 crore rupee per tahun dari perusahaan Inggris, Genius Sports, karena enggan membagi tanggung jawab komersial.

Klub memilih mengajukan proposal alternatif agar Genius Sports hanya menjadi mitra teknologi, sementara 90 persen keuntungan ekonomi struktur liga dikuasai oleh internal tim peserta.

Di tengah polemik, klub-klub tetap mengucurkan investasi besar meskipun kondisi finansial liga musim ini dilaporkan sangat menantang, ditandai dengan penundaan pembayaran hak pemain hingga pemutusan kontrak.

Internal AIFF juga menghadapi gugatan hukum dari anggota komite eksekutif terkait pelanggaran kuorum penyelenggaraan Sidang Umum Luar Biasa (SGM) tanpa melibatkan perwakilan mantan pemain menonjol sesuai aturan Mahkamah Agung.

Sebelumnya, krisis ini juga berimbas pada jalannya kompetisi di lapangan hijau, termasuk saat Kerala Blasters menundukkan FC Goa dengan skor 1-0 di Stadion Internasional Jawaharlal Nehru, Kochi, pada Senin, 18 Mei 2026.

Gol tunggal penentu kemenangan tuan rumah dicetak oleh gelandang sayap Kevin Yoke pada menit ke-48 setelah memanfaatkan umpan tusukan dari sisi kiri kotak penalti, seperti dilansir dari laporan langsung Sportstar.

Kemenangan tersebut membuat Kerala Blasters mengoleksi 18 poin di peringkat kedelapan, sementara FC Goa tertahan di peringkat ketujuh dengan raihan 21 poin dalam papan klasemen sementara.

Berikut adalah klasemen sementara kompetisi berdasarkan data goal.com:

"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.

Pihak klub menambahkan bahwa absennya kepastian finansial membuat operasional tim sulit dipertahankan dalam jangka panjang oleh pemilik modal.

"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," kata pernyataan bersama klub-klub ISL.

Kelompok manajemen tim mengekspresikan kekecewaan kolektif karena pihak yang mempromosikan dan mendanai liga justru dihadapkan pada ketidakjelasan regulasi.

"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," tambah pernyataan bersama klub-klub ISL.

Sebagai solusi, asosiasi klub mendesak otoritas sepak bola tertinggi India mengevaluasi model alternatif yang inklusif 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," lanjut pernyataan bersama klub-klub ISL.

Seorang CEO klub yang meminta anonimitas menyatakan para pemilik modal membutuhkan kejelasan masa depan kompetisi.

"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," kata seorang CEO klub.

Pelatih East Bengal Oscar Bruzon menyatakan keraguan mengenai musim depan menjadi landasan baginya untuk mengambil keputusan krusial.

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

Anggota Komite Eksekutif AIFF Valanka Alemao mengutarakan keberatan resmi mengenai pelanggaran konstitusi dalam agenda rapat federasi.

“…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,” kata Valanka Alemao, Anggota Komite Eksekutif AIFF.

Alemao menekankan bahwa rapat umum luar biasa tersebut melanggar ketentuan hukum yang mengikat.

“…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)," tegas Valanka Alemao, Anggota Komite Eksekutif AIFF.

Manajer interim Kerala Blasters Ashley Westwood juga menolak membahas perpanjangan kontrak permanen dari manajemen klub akibat krisis ekosistem liga ini.

"They are a top-ranked side and have some very good Indian national players and experienced foreign players. We have to go out and give our best and try to win the match," ucap Ashley Westwood, Head Coach Kerala Blasters.

Juru taktik asal Inggris yang bertugas sejak Maret 2026 tersebut menekankan pentingnya menjaga konsistensi performa tim sebelum kompetisi berakhir.

"Nothing's guaranteed in football. You have to work hard first and foremost. You have to match physicality and physical outputs. But at the end of the day, let's not finish the season on a down. We've been on an upward trajectory since the day I got here and just keep the momentum going, give it your all and let's not sit in two or three days' time where we're regretting things that we didn't give our everything to get the result. If we don't get it, that's fine as long as we give it our best," jelas Ashley Westwood, Head Coach Kerala Blasters.

Westwood membenarkan adanya tawaran formal dari manajemen klub terkait perundingan masa kerja jangka panjang.

"To be honest, the management have asked me a couple of times for meetings," kata Ashley Westwood, Pelatih Interim Kerala Blasters.

Namun, mantan pelatih pengganti David Catala tersebut memilih fokus menyelesaikan durasi kontrak pendeknya yang menyisakan beberapa laga.

"But me personally, when I came here, I said, listen, I am coming to help. I have got seven games, let me focus on seven games, let me give as much as I can. And when everything is finished, when the dust settles, you know, we can sit down and talk about the future," ujar Ashley Westwood, Pelatih Interim Kerala Blasters.

Ia mengonfirmasi langkah hati-hati ini diambil secara sadar karena tidak ada pihak yang mengetahui masa depan kompetisi saat ini.

"I am one of these people who is very straight, very honest and I do not want to enter any conversations until we know the future. And at the minute, as it stands, no one knows the future of Indian football. So, why speak about ifs, buts, maybes? Once all the facts are in, then I will be ready to talk," tegas Ashley Westwood, Pelatih Interim Kerala Blasters.

Sembari menunggu keputusan resmi federasi, ia berkomitmen untuk tetap menjalankan program latihan teknis secara profesional.

"But until then, I concentrate on football and you never know when your last day can be in any job, in any position. So, we just keep training, keep playing and once we know the landscape, let us sit and talk," tambah Ashley Westwood, Pelatih Interim Kerala Blasters.

Dari kubu lawan, pelatih FC Goa Manolo Marquez membenarkan adanya perombakan pada susunan pemain utama dalam laga tandang di Kochi.

"Some changes will be there among the starters but that’s not important," ungkap Manolo Marquez, Pelatih FC Goa.

Marquez menilai rotasi skuad bukan alasan bagi timnya untuk tidak tampil kompetitif menghadapi lawan yang didukung suporter fanatik.

"We need to be competitive (regardless of the changes). We face a team that is most motivated in the competition, even more than the teams who are fighting for the title. They have changed some foreign players and they are now better. They are playing with confidence. The crowd is also there and now more supporters will be at the stadium. It will be a nice farewell game of the season," tutur Manolo Marquez, Pelatih FC Goa.

Pejabat tinggi AIFF dijadwalkan mengadakan pertemuan langsung dengan perwakilan klub ISL untuk membahas polemik hak komersial dan kelanjutan liga.