In a significant development for Indian football, the Supreme Court has directed the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to ensure the smooth conduct of the Indian Super League (ISL) for the 2025–26 season, along with other domestic competitions under its control.

A Bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi observed that maintaining competitive continuity in Indian football was critical, particularly in the backdrop of uncertainties created after the enactment of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.

The Court noted the need for an immediate roadmap for the 2025–26 football season, stating:

“We direct AIFF to take such measures as may be necessary for timely commencement of the football calendar and to maintain competitive continuity for the 2025–26 season with respect to the Super Cup and other competitions under its control.”

Importantly, the Court lifted the embargo it had earlier imposed on AIFF regarding contractual arrangements and allowed it to initiate the process of appointing a commercial partner for ISL 2025–26.

To ensure fairness, transparency, and global best practices, the Court mandated that the selection of a commercial partner must take place through an open and competitive bidding process.

To oversee this critical transition, the Court appointed former Supreme Court Judge Justice L. Nageswara Rao to supervise the tender process and ensure that the AIFF identifies a competent, reputed, and efficient commercial partner.

This move is aimed at restoring faith in the administration of football in India, ensuring corporate accountability, and aligning AIFF’s functioning with the standards of international sports governance.

The Supreme Court has been closely monitoring the functioning, governance, and constitution of the AIFF for several years. The present proceedings trace back to challenges concerning AIFF’s electoral structure and the management of professional football in India.

Earlier, while examining a draft constitution of AIFF, the Court had barred the federation from entering into binding commercial contracts pending judicial scrutiny.

However, with the sudden introduction of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, uncertainty arose over the continuation of football tournaments, including ISL. The Act introduced new compliance requirements for sports bodies, leading to difficulties between AIFF and its existing commercial partner, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL).

Due to these regulatory hurdles and contractual deadlocks, the ISL—as well as other tournaments—faced the risk of suspension. Recognizing the threat to India’s premier football league, the Court called upon AIFF and FSDL to present a joint proposal for the upcoming season.

When such a proposal was tabled, the Bench found general consensus among counsels that competitive continuity was vital for Indian football, particularly with the ISL serving as the top-tier domestic league feeding into continental competitions.

The Court was informed that the draft AIFF Constitution, which it had previously examined, was largely in conformity with the new National Sports Governance Act. However, several senior counsels expressed concerns regarding the autonomy of AIFF and the potential overreach of statutory provisions into sports administration.

The Bench clarified that it will hear further submissions on the draft Constitution before finalizing its ruling on the matter. For the present, its priority remained ensuring the timely conduct of the 2025–26 football season.

The matter witnessed appearances from several senior lawyers, including Ranjit Kumar, Raghenth Basant, Neeraj Kishan Kaul, Ritin Rai, Swarupama Chaturvedi, and Dr. Menaka Guruswamy on behalf of the parties. The Union of India was represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and ASG KM Nataraj.

By entrusting Justice L. Nageswara Rao with overseeing the commercial partnership process, the Supreme Court has taken a proactive step to protect the integrity of Indian football and ensure that the ISL and other competitions are conducted without disruption.

The ruling not only safeguards the immediate future of ISL 2025–26 but also sets the tone for a more accountable, transparent, and professionally managed football ecosystem in India.

Case Title: All India Football Federation v. Rahul Mehra & Ors.
*SLP(C) Nos. 30748-30749 of 2017