The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Tuesday finalised a detailed proposal for the Indian Super League (ISL) charter, outlining a new governance structure that will come into effect from the 2026-27 season and significantly increase the role of clubs and commercial partners in decision-making.
Under the proposed charter, the ISL will be governed through a two-tier system comprising a Governing Council and a Management Committee. Both bodies will include representation from clubs and the potential rights partner, with the commercial partner allocated three seats in each committee. The term of nominated members of both committees will span three ISL seasons, beginning from the season prior to their appointment.
The proposal is planned as part of a long-term 20-season cycle and follows sustained requests from ISL clubs to establish a governance hierarchy similar to the Premier League model, where a dedicated league body operates alongside representation from the Football Association. However, AIFF’s plan underlines that, in line with its constitution, the ISL will continue to be run solely by the federation.
As per the proposed pyramid, AIFF will sit at the top, followed by the 22-member ISL Governing Council, and then the 11-member ISL Management Committee. The Governing Council will include 14 representatives from ISL clubs, one from each team, three members from the rights partner, and five additional members. These five will comprise the AIFF President or Secretary General, Vice President, Treasurer, and two independent members with no commercial ties to AIFF, one nominated by the federation and one by the clubs. The AIFF President or Vice President will serve as chairperson, with decisions taken by simple majority, provided at least two AIFF members vote in favour.
The Management Committee will function as the league’s operational body, overseeing daily activities such as match operations, regulatory compliance, sponsorship, and financial management. It will be chaired by the AIFF Secretary General or Deputy Secretary General and include two more federation officials, along with eight representatives from clubs and the commercial partner. Of the five club representatives, three will be chosen by majority consensus among clubs, while two will come from the teams finishing in the top two positions each season.
The proposal also sets out detailed voting thresholds, ranging from simple majority for routine operational matters to super-majority decisions for revenue redistribution or major budget changes, all requiring AIFF member support. The charter has been circulated to all ISL clubs, with the federation expecting feedback in the coming days.
