Sunil Chhetri says ISL pause is concerning, India’s football ecosystem is ‘scared’

India’s veteran Sunil Chhetri has shared his concern regarding the current situation of Indian football. The Indian Super League has put the 2025-26 season “on hold” for an indefinite period due to uncertainty surrounding the renewal of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between the event organisers, Football Sports Development Limited, and the All India Football Federation.

For the new Master Rights Agreement (MRA) – where AIFF retains all non-ISL rights including national team competitions — the federation wants the marketing partners or league owners to make an annual solidarity payments to the AIFF game development fund of Rs. 50 crore or 10% of the total league revenue in 2026.

“It began with worrying about how I am on borrowed time with what I have left in the tank. But speaking with players from across clubs, I’ve realised that my selfish problem isn’t as important,” the 40-year-old Chhetri posted on X.

“The current situation that Indian football finds itself in, is very concerning. I’ve received a flurry of texts from players, staff members, physios, masseurs – not just from my club, but from other clubs as well

“Everybody in the Indian football ecosystem is worried, hurt, scared about the uncertainty we are faced with,” he added.

Chhetri admitted he was on vacation when he first heard about the ISL getting postponed, and it made him smile.

“I must admit it made me smile. And that’s because I was on vacation, hadn’t moved as much as I would have liked to, and hadn’t been eating as clean as I usually do. I had more time than I had bargained to get in shape.

“That ‘fortnight’ has now changed to ‘indefinitely’ and that smile’s been wiped out. I know that the think tank and all those involved in running the sport are working to get the football season up and running, and I’m hopeful that there is a solid fix sooner rather than later,” he said.

The Indian football icon urged the players, staff, kitmen, masseurs, medical teams, production crews, and operations staff to stay calm amid this difficult time.

“I may not have all the answers, but my message to all those involved with Indian football — and more importantly, the ones whose livelihood depends on it, the players, staff, kitmen, masseurs, medical teams, production crews, operations staff — please stay calm.

“We’ll ride this storm together. Stick together and look out for each other. Keep training and getting better. Football has to resume soon. It will,” he signed off.