In form of t20 world cup The hysteria sweeping the country has hardly helped its recovery. Indian Super LeagueWhich started again only after months of uncertainty. Despite cricket’s unmatched appeal in India, football is struggling for space and relevance in the crowded sporting landscape. The ISL’s challenges run deeper than scheduling conflicts. After investing heavily over the past decade without sustained commercial returns, FSDL decided not to renew its partnership. When profits are not generated year after year, it becomes difficult to justify continued support. Therefore, after this, All India Football Federation (AIFF) Took steps to take responsibility and save the league.
Former AIFF general secretary Shaji Prabhakaran discusses the association’s decision to manage the ISL, and highlights how months of doubt over the league have complicated matters for stakeholders and fans.
“It’s not that the AIFF has taken over, but I think it’s because they didn’t find any commercial partner. Commercially, the market for football is not very encouraging right now. So this way, the AIFF is managing it perfectly. I think they are planning to re-bid for 20 years. That’s what I’ve read. But commercially, the market should grow. A lot of work needs to be done in that area as the visibility of the game increases. The performance of the national team is uncertain. Maybe we will know how things are going in the next season. Let’s hope that this will define the next season.
Reflecting on the decade-long partnership between FSDL and ISL, Prabhakaran reflected on whether the collaboration has achieved its goals. While he acknowledged the significant investments and business efforts that helped professionalize Indian football, he noted that ultimate success depended on nurturing local talent and building stars from the grassroots.
“I think the people who supported football as a brand, supported the game commercially, we need to thank them. They really tried. They put their best interest and best money into the game. If you look at how the game has changed in terms of stadiums, training facilities, coaches, player salaries and global branding, there has been progress. The problem is that the national team did not perform well. That’s where we should focus on grassroots development and talent. We need to focus on the youth level. But there is a need for more events and competitions. We need to have such events 365 days a year. Unless we have local stars, we will have to have local stars, and they will only come with a strong grassroots structure.
Amid reports of player pay cuts and financial stress in the Indian Super League, the 53-year-old addressed concerns over the sustainability of the league, and stressed that the current season has been far from normal. With clubs hit by sponsorship losses and prolonged uncertainty, the players mutually agreed to take pay cuts, but stressed that long-term sustainability would depend on commercial recovery, improved competitiveness and new fan and brand engagement across the entire ecosystem.
“This season was not a regular season because of the uncertainties. Clubs lost sponsors and did not have time to secure new sponsors. Players voluntarily agreed to take a cut in payments – it was mutual. But sustainability is important. If clubs continue to spend without recovery, it becomes harder. Next season will define whether recovery happens or not. We need more competitiveness and fan energy in stadiums and digitally, so brands get excited again. All “Stakeholders must come together. We must protect and develop the game. Football must emerge from the crisis,” he stressed.
India recently hosted Lionel MessiWhose journey started with controversy in Kolkata but quickly gained momentum with successful programs in Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi. Although the tour lasted only a few days, its impact on Indian football was unmistakable. Prabhakaran said packed stadiums, active brand participation and widespread fan enthusiasm highlighted the popularity and commercial promise of the sport. Yet he stressed that while Messi’s visit generated excitement, India’s football ecosystem still needs long-term strategic planning, strong grassroots programs and strong competitive structures to drive sustainable growth and develop local talent across the country.
“Messi’s event showed that there is a craze for football. He didn’t play a single match, but the stadiums were packed. It showed that football has a huge fan base in India. Brands came forward and supported it. Economically, it showed that football has commercial potential. But his arrival will not change the fortunes of Indian football. Not at all. At least there was discussion. For those few days, football was the focus in the country. It attracted attention to the game. Some people might be inspired to invest. There are impacts too.” Like the big project launched by Maharashtra Government. It came about because of Messi’s visit, the city looked like a football city, it encouraged people to do more for the game, but overall, we need a strategy for the whole country – how to engage children, create opportunities and create competitive platforms.”
“AIFF’s ‘Vision 2047’ was an honest vision”
The AIFF unveiled its long-term blueprint, ‘Vision 2047: The Indian Football Strategic Roadmap’, outlining key growth areas in 2023. However, progress has been limited, with Indian football showing little concrete growth since its launch.
Prabhakaran, present at the unveiling of Vision 2047 in his role as AIFF General Secretary, reflected on the intentions and challenges of the plan. He stressed that the roadmap aims to deliver honest, annual assessments with clear targets across grassroots leagues, national team performance, women’s football, coach and referee development.
“It was an honest approach. Every year, it meant presenting what was achieved, what was not and how to correct. In the first four-year cycle, there were defined targets for grassroots leagues, national team rankings, women’s football, coach education and referee development. Hopefully, by the end of 2026, there will be a report showing what was achieved. To bring about generational change, you need 15 to 20 years. There are no shortcuts to excellence. Excellence Means 360-degree improvement. Transparency and proactive communication are important.”
Meanwhile, India have not been able to find a true superstar to lead the next phase of the game Sunil Chhetri. For years, Chhetri was the face of Indian football, its main goal threat and its biggest attraction off the field. Still, the search for a successor as both poster boy and trusted No. 9 has not been complete. A series of inconsistent performances in recent times eventually led the AIFF to bring Chhetri back from retirement, highlighting once again how much the team relies on him.
When asked why India are struggling to find a replacement for Chhetri and how to address it moving forward, Prabhakaran highlighted the urgent need for a structured talent pipeline, constant scouting, grassroots development and a culture of excellence to continuously produce players of Chhetri’s caliber.
“We need not one but many Sunil Chhetris. At every position. Scouting should be 24/7. You cannot rely only on formal systems. You never know where you will find a diamond; you must keep mining. We need to empower clubs and organizations from villages to cities. Inter-college competitions like the Strikers Cup are important. You may not get the finished product, but you may get the raw talent that you can shape. The problem is That we don’t have a culture of excellence. The competitive environment should demand better performance. Sunil Chhetri took Indian football forward for two decades, he came by his own will, not by design, now we need to design that system.”
The former AIFF General Secretary recently participated in the Strikers Cup, a major inter-college football tournament in Delhi in which 24 leading colleges and over 600 athletes participated. Impressed by the scale, organization and growing commercial interest of the event, he described it as an important step forward for grassroots and collegiate football in the capital.
He said, “The Strikers Cup was good. It is the best event in Delhi for college football. It is even better than inter-college. It had more than 24 teams from different universities as well as from outside Delhi and around 600 players. It was a well-organised competition. Overall, the brand presence was there too. Some sponsors believed in the asset. And I could see a lot of encouragement from the youth to be a part of it.”
