Indian Super League (ISL) club Bengaluru FC have halted salary payments to their first-team players and staff as uncertainty deepens over the future of India’s top-flight football league.
In a statement issued on Monday, the 2018–19 ISL champions said the decision was made “in view of the uncertainty surrounding the future of the Indian Super League season.”
“Running and sustaining a football club in India has always been an uphill climb, one that we have put everything aside and made, season after season,” the club stated. “However, the lack of clarity on the League’s future leaves us with no choice but to take this step.”
The ISL was suspended after contract renewal talks between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its commercial partner, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), stalled. The renewal of the 2010 agreement has been delayed following a Supreme Court directive that the AIFF should not proceed until a separate ruling is issued regarding the implementation of a new constitution for the federation.
Bengaluru FC, who count India’s all-time leading goalscorer Sunil Chhetri among their squad, said their primary concern was the welfare of players, staff, and their families.
“The future and well-being of our players, staff and their families is of utmost importance to us, and we are in touch with them as we wait for a resolution,” the club added. “We urge the AIFF and FSDL to end this impasse swiftly.”
Neither the AIFF nor the ISL responded immediately to requests for comment. However, reports in Indian media suggest that representatives from eight ISL clubs are set to meet the AIFF this week to discuss the way forward.
Bengaluru FC confirmed that their youth academy teams will not be affected by the suspension of salaries.