Klub ISL Desak AIFF Tunda Keputusan Sponsor Komersial Liga

Lima klub Liga Super India (ISL) mendesak Federasi Sepak Bola Seluruh India (AIFF) untuk tidak mengambil keputusan mengikat terkait model hak komersial jangka panjang dalam Sidang Umum Khusus (SGM) di Kolkata pada Sabtu, 23 Mei 2026.

Langkah ini diambil setelah klub-klub mengancam akan meninjau ulang partisipasi mereka di liga akibat ketidakjelasan masa depan finansial dan struktur kompetisi. Krisis ini mencuat setelah musim kompetisi sebelumnya terganggu oleh perselisihan kontrak antara AIFF dan mitra dewan, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL).

Melalui pernyataan bersama di media sosial Instagram, lima klub ISL menyatakan kekecewaan mendalam atas situasi sepak bola profesional di India saat ini.

"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 bersama klub-klub ISL dilansir dari ANI.

Klub-klub menegaskan bahwa mereka telah berulang kali berinvestasi meskipun menghadapi situasi operasional yang sulit, namun kejelasan finansial dari pengelola liga masih belum menemui titik terang.

"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.

Pihak klub juga menyayangkan lambatnya respons dari otoritas sepak bola India dalam mengelola ekosistem kompetisi yang didanai oleh para investor swasta tersebut.

"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, klub-klub telah menawarkan draf alternatif yang dinilai lebih inklusif dan berkelanjutan demi menjaga kelangsungan industri sepak bola nasional.

"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," tegas pihak klub.

Di sisi lain, ketidakpastian finansial ini berdampak langsung pada mandeknya negosiasi kontrak para pemain dan jajaran pelatih untuk musim depan.

"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 yang memilih anonim kepada Hindustan Times.

Kekhawatiran klub kian memuncak karena AIFF condong memilih perusahaan asal Inggris, Genius Sports, untuk memegang hak komersial selama 15 hingga 20 tahun ke depan dengan nilai tawaran Rp64,4 crore per tahun.

Melalui surat elektronik 13 poin yang dikirimkan kepada Presiden AIFF Kalyan Chaubey dan Wakil Sekretaris Jenderal M Satyanarayan, CEO FC Goa Ravi Puskur mewakili klub-klub meminta agar kesepakatan itu ditangguhkan.

"no binding decision be taken at the Special General Meeting scheduled for tomorrow [May 23]. The Clubs remain willing and available to continue engaging constructively with the AIFF and Genius Sports to arrive at a collaborative and financially sustainable framework that protects the interests of all stakeholders and, most importantly, secures the future of Indian football," tulis Ravi Puskur dalam surat elektroniknya sebagaimana dilansir Times of India.

Hingga saat ini, agenda sidang umum AIFF dilaporkan hanya sebatas melakukan diskusi dan pertimbangan akibat adanya kendala hukum tata negara.