AIFF to Submit Report to Supreme Court After No Bids for Commercial Rights

AIFF's Bid Evaluation Committee Meeting

The Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC) of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) held a meeting on Sunday to assess the status of the "Request for Proposal (RFP) for Awarding the Right to Monetise the Commercial Rights Belonging to the All India Football Federation for a Limited Term," according to an official statement from AIFF.

After thorough discussions, Justice (Retd.) L. Nageswara Rao, the Chairperson of the BEC, is set to present his findings to the Supreme Court of India as the next step in the process.

No Bids Received for ISL Commercial Rights

The deadline for submitting bids in response to the RFP for the commercial rights of the Indian Super League (ISL) ended on Friday, but unfortunately, no bids were submitted within the specified timeframe.

AIFF had released the Request for Quotation for these rights on October 16.

Supreme Court's Role in ISL's Future

In September, the Supreme Court approved a proposal from AIFF and its commercial partner, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), aimed at resuming the Indian Super League, which is currently suspended.

The proposal included two main points: conducting tenders to find a commercial partner for organizing the ISL, which was expected to commence in December, and starting the 2025-26 season with the Super Cup, as reported by ESPN.

The Supreme Court emphasized the need for a timely start to India's 2025-26 football season, including the Super Cup, and urged AIFF to take necessary actions to facilitate this. They have now authorized the issuance of tenders for the ISL, with former Justice Nageswara Rao overseeing the process.

Future Roadmap for the League

On August 22, the Court directed AIFF and FSDL to collaborate and present a roadmap for the league's future. Meetings between the two parties occurred in Bengaluru on August 25, resulting in a proposal that included two significant decisions.

AIFF and FSDL agreed to conduct an open and transparent tender to select a commercial partner for managing the ISL, with an independent professional firm overseeing the process.

Notably, FSDL has agreed to relinquish its right of first negotiation and right to match the winning bid, allowing for the possibility of new entrants in the Indian football landscape if FSDL opts not to bid or is outbid during the tender process.

Background of AIFF-FSDL Partnership

FSDL, supported by Reliance, has played a pivotal role in the evolution of the ISL over the past decade, transforming it from a short exhibition tournament into India's premier football league.

Typically held from September to April, the ISL has been suspended due to ongoing disputes between AIFF and its partner FSDL.

The conflict arises from unresolved contractual issues, as the 15-year Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between AIFF and FSDL is set to expire at the end of this year.

In July, AIFF asserted that they had initiated negotiations regarding the potential renewal of the agreement on November 21, 2024. Following this, senior representatives from both AIFF and FSDL held meetings on February 5 in New Delhi and March 5 in Mumbai to discuss renewal terms. A proposal was submitted by FSDL on March 5, to which AIFF responded with a counter-proposal on April 21.