“Football is making excellent progress.”
For Indian football fans, that statement from Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya may sound difficult to reconcile with the current state of the sport. Speaking on the sidelines of the 85th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle, Mandaviya was referring to an ecosystem dealing with club withdrawals, financial uncertainty, changes to the ISL structure and continuing questions around the national team.
The Indian Super League is set to return, as Mandaviya pointed out, but the league's comeback alone does not necessarily indicate that Indian football is in robust health.
After the uncertainty surrounding the competition last season, its return is undoubtedly important for clubs, players and supporters. However, considering the problems that continue to surround the sport, calling the situation “excellent progress” appears to set an unusually low benchmark.
While the ISL is preparing for another season, several clubs continue to struggle financially, investors are reassessing their involvement and the league's commercial model is undergoing major changes.
The most recent setback came when Tata Steel decided to withdraw Jamshedpur FC from the 2026-27 ISL season. The club's players, former India captain Sunil Chhetri and AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey all appealed to the Tata Group to reconsider the decision.
There is certainly more to Indian football than the ISL, but the country's top division is currently confronting issues that go well beyond the number of clubs participating.
THE ISL'S PROBLEMS ARE BECOMING HARDER TO IGNORE
The difficulties surrounding the ISL have been developing for some time.
The commercial agreement between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), which had played a central role in running the league, expired before the previous season. The uncertainty surrounding the commercial arrangement contributed to a heavily shortened 2025-26 campaign.
The season, which was originally expected to start in September, eventually took place from February 14 to May 21 and followed a single-leg format.
Fewer matches meant fewer revenue-generating opportunities for clubs already dealing with significant operating expenses.
Industry estimates indicate that ISL clubs are losing around Rs 25-30 crore each season, while broadcasting revenues have dropped substantially. The reported value per match fell from approximately Rs 1.68 crore in 2024-25 to Rs 9.5 lakh last season.
Jamshedpur is not the only club facing difficulties.
Mumbai City FC saw City Football Group reduce its stake.
Kerala Blasters have faced financial uncertainty and are reportedly considering a complete stake sale.
Hyderabad FC, after struggling to sustain their losses, were acquired by the BC Jindal Group and subsequently rebranded as Sporting Club Delhi.
Newly promoted Diamond Harbour FC have also faced uncertainty over their future.
The new club-driven commercial structure is intended to give teams greater control over sponsorships, broadcasting and other revenue streams. In the long term, that could become a positive development.
However, expecting financially strained clubs to suddenly become self-sufficient commercial operations does not automatically resolve the deeper financial challenges facing the league.
THE NATIONAL TEAM HAS ITS OWN PROBLEMS
The uncertainty extends beyond the club competition. India's national-team structure has also produced several examples of questionable decision-making.
The Ranjit Bajaj-Bibiano Fernandes episode is one such example. Bajaj was approved as manager of India's U-15 men's team after Fernandes was appointed head coach. Bajaj objected to the arrangement, saying their footballing philosophies were incompatible.
He initially rejected the position and later said he would accept it if Fernandes was removed from the setup. The communication surrounding the appointments was also questioned, with Bajaj saying he had not been informed beforehand and did not receive timely confirmation even after reports of the appointment emerged.
This is a team preparing for India's first appearance at the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival. Time spent resolving disagreements over the coaching structure is time that could otherwise be used for scouting, team building and preparation.
The national team's calendar has also raised questions.
A proposed friendly against Brazil in October has drawn criticism from former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia because it could clash with India's participation in the FIFA ASEAN Cup. If the fixtures overlap, India may have to choose between a prestigious friendly and a competitive international tournament.
These hardly suggest a football system operating without major complications.
SO, WHERE IS THE “EXCELLENT PROGRESS”?
Mandaviya's comments highlight the disconnect between the government's assessment of Indian football and the experience of many supporters.
For fans already frustrated by the uncertainty surrounding the sport, describing the situation as “excellent progress” can seem particularly difficult to understand.
Earlier, during an important ISL press conference, Mandaviya struggled to pronounce the names of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, referring to them as “Mohun Began” and “East Began” before asking for assistance.
The incident quickly became a meme, but for football supporters it represented more than a simple pronunciation mistake. Mohun Bagan and East Bengal are century-old institutions and important parts of India's football history, particularly in Kolkata.
Now, the “excellent progress” remark adds another layer to the disconnect.
Mandaviya spoke about India's preparations for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, including infrastructure being developed to improve athletes' performances. But when discussing Indian football, his response focused largely on the ISL's return and the emergence of new clubs.
There was no reference to Jamshedpur FC's withdrawal, the financial difficulties facing ISL clubs, the sharp decline in broadcasting revenues, the uncertainty over the league's commercial structure or the Ranjit Bajaj-Bibiano Fernandes controversy.
Perhaps these issues are being viewed within a larger strategy that is not immediately visible to supporters.
The return of the ISL is certainly positive. New clubs can also be viewed as encouraging.
But neither development, on its own, explains how Indian football at this moment can reasonably be described as making “excellent progress”.
If the Sports Ministry believes the sport is moving forward on a broader front, Indian football fans deserve to understand what that bigger picture looks like.
