India's Football League in Crisis: The City Football Group's Departure Exposes the Sport's Uncertain Future
The Indian Super League (ISL), once touted as a premier football competition, has found itself at a standstill. With no games scheduled to take place, fans are left frustrated and uncertain about the sport's future. The recent departure of City Football Group, which had 65% ownership of Mumbai City FC, is seen as a major setback for Indian football.
The reason behind CFG's decision to divest their shares was not disclosed in detail, but it is clear that the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the ISL has been a significant factor. A 15-year Masters Right Agreement with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) ended in December, leaving no new agreement or partner in place. This lack of clarity has resulted in a prolonged delay in the start of the 2025-26 season.
The consequences of this uncertainty are far-reaching. Referees have expressed their concerns about not being able to earn a living, with some even threatening to leave the sport. Players and coaches have also been affected, with many calling for FIFA's intervention to resolve the issue.
Ravi Puskur, owner of FC Goa, has described CFG's departure as "a serious indictment" of the current administration overseeing Indian football. He added that the dominance of cricket in India makes it difficult to attract credible, long-term investment in football. This sentiment is echoed by Shaji Prabhakaran, former general secretary of the AIFF, who believes that CFG's expertise and global best practices will be hard to replace.
The loss of CFG's global connections has also been felt. The network of clubs and teams under its umbrella was a key factor in attracting coaches, support staff, and foreign players to Indian football. The departure of these connections may prove costly for Mumbai City FC, which lost significant brand value with the exit of CFG.
For fans like Suresh Khatri, who has been following the sport for years, the situation is particularly disappointing. "There are bigger problems, but it's disappointing," he said. "Nobody blames them [CFG], what's the point of investing in a team and league with no games?"
The potential consequences of this uncertainty go beyond the football community itself. International investors may now think twice about investing in Indian football, which would have significant implications for the sport's growth and development.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Indian football will recover from this setback. One thing is clear: the departure of CFG has exposed the sport's uncertain future, and a solution needs to be found soon to prevent further damage.
The Indian Super League (ISL), once touted as a premier football competition, has found itself at a standstill. With no games scheduled to take place, fans are left frustrated and uncertain about the sport's future. The recent departure of City Football Group, which had 65% ownership of Mumbai City FC, is seen as a major setback for Indian football.
The reason behind CFG's decision to divest their shares was not disclosed in detail, but it is clear that the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the ISL has been a significant factor. A 15-year Masters Right Agreement with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) ended in December, leaving no new agreement or partner in place. This lack of clarity has resulted in a prolonged delay in the start of the 2025-26 season.
The consequences of this uncertainty are far-reaching. Referees have expressed their concerns about not being able to earn a living, with some even threatening to leave the sport. Players and coaches have also been affected, with many calling for FIFA's intervention to resolve the issue.
Ravi Puskur, owner of FC Goa, has described CFG's departure as "a serious indictment" of the current administration overseeing Indian football. He added that the dominance of cricket in India makes it difficult to attract credible, long-term investment in football. This sentiment is echoed by Shaji Prabhakaran, former general secretary of the AIFF, who believes that CFG's expertise and global best practices will be hard to replace.
The loss of CFG's global connections has also been felt. The network of clubs and teams under its umbrella was a key factor in attracting coaches, support staff, and foreign players to Indian football. The departure of these connections may prove costly for Mumbai City FC, which lost significant brand value with the exit of CFG.
For fans like Suresh Khatri, who has been following the sport for years, the situation is particularly disappointing. "There are bigger problems, but it's disappointing," he said. "Nobody blames them [CFG], what's the point of investing in a team and league with no games?"
The potential consequences of this uncertainty go beyond the football community itself. International investors may now think twice about investing in Indian football, which would have significant implications for the sport's growth and development.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Indian football will recover from this setback. One thing is clear: the departure of CFG has exposed the sport's uncertain future, and a solution needs to be found soon to prevent further damage.
. I mean, I get it, uncertainty can be tough for investors, but 65% of ownership? That's a big chunk! And now, Mumbai City FC is basically left to pick up the pieces. It's not like they didn't see this coming, though - the whole Masters Right Agreement thing was always gonna be a point of contention.
. And the players and coaches are right there with them, complaining about no new season and all that. It's like, come on guys, let's work together here!
i mean, indian football was finally getting somewhere with the isl, but now it seems like everything has come crashing down. 65% ownership being lost is huge, and it's not hard to see why cfg would want out - the aiff isn't exactly known for its stability or clarity. but what's gonna happen to the teams and players who are already struggling? 
it feels like a lot of potential was being wasted, and now it's all just been taken away. i don't think it's just about the football itself, though - this kind of uncertainty can really scare off investors and sponsors. we'll have to wait and see if anyone else steps in to try and save indian football 
. Anyway, it's crazy how CFG just up and left like that. They were supposed to be helping Indian football grow, not pulling out after 15 years of investment. Now what? It's clear the AIFF needs some serious reforms ASAP 
. Can't blame them for wanting more stability and security in their contracts, but it's a shame for fans like Suresh who just want to watch some good footy 
. And yeah, if international investors start losing interest, that's gonna be a major blow to the sport. Hopefully someone comes along soon with a solid plan to get Indian football back on track 
This news just broke my heart man... I mean, I'm all for some changes, but it feels like Indian football was on the right track with the ISL. Now, we're back to square one 
. 15 years of a Masters Right Agreement without a new partner or agreement? That's a huge risk for referees and players. And the impact on fan morale? Forget about it 
. It's not just about football, though - this kind of uncertainty can scare off investors too. We need to sort this out ASAP so we don't lose all that momentum 
.
This whole situation is just a mess... City Football Group basically took their ball home because they couldn't find a partner who knew what they were doing. 15-year agreement ended in Dec but nobody's been able to get another deal in place? That's just sloppy. 
Now referees and players are worried about not being able to earn a living... It's like Indian football is stuck in neutral gear. 
️ FIFA needs to step in here ASAP or this whole thing could go haywire... And let's be real, with cricket dominating the sports scene in India, it's tough for football to get any traction. 
! INDIAN FOOTBALL IS AT A STANDSTILL AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF THE CITY FOOTBALL GROUP'S DEPARTURE 
. I MEAN, WHO KNEW THAT A LEAGUE WOULD COLLAPSE WITHOUT EVEN PLAYING A SINGLE GAME? 
IT'S LIKE THE LEAGUE IS WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN, BUT NOBODY KNOWS WHAT'S NEXT.
. RAVI PUSKUR SAID THAT CRICKET DOMINATES IN INDIA AND MAKES IT TOUGH FOR FOOTBALL TO GET ATTRACTION 
. BUT I THINK IT'S TIME WE LOOKED INTO OTHER WAYS TO ATTRACT INVESTORS AND FANS.
IT'S LIKE THE SPORT IS JUST WAITING FOR A CATASTROPHIC COLLAPSE BEFORE SOMETHING GETS DONE.