All posts tagged: indian football

Why ISL clubs running the league isn’t a conflict of interest?

Why ISL clubs running the league isn’t a conflict of interest?

Published by Webster

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Tuesday announced that it had reached an agreement with Indian Super League (ISL) clubs to jointly conduct the league for the upcoming season, with the clubs set to take over its commercial operations under a new governance model. Under the agreement, the clubs will own the league’s commercial rights for the next four years, although they will have the option to review the arrangement after two years. AIFF will receive 10 per cent of the league’s net profits, retain audit rights over the league’s accounts and receive ₹1.1 crore from each participating club. The announcement has also raised a question among many Indian football fans: If the clubs themselves are running the league, doesn’t that create a conflict of interest? The short answer is no. In fact, several of the world’s biggest football leagues are run on similar lines. What did AIFF announce? The AIFF confirmed that it has accepted a club-led model for the ISL’s commercial operations. While the clubs will collectively conduct the league and own …

Mohun Bagan SG and East Bengal FC drawn in Group A

Mohun Bagan SG and East Bengal FC drawn in Group A

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The countdown to the Durand Cup 2026 gathered further momentum as the Organising Committee announced the 24 participating teams across the tournament’s five host cities and confirmed the host city match windows. The tournament will commence in Kolkata on July 25 before travelling across the five host cities over the following four weeks, culminating with the Final at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on August 23. Hosted across Kolkata, Ranchi, Imphal, Guwahati and Shillong, this year’s edition will once again bring together a blend of India’s leading clubs, Services teams, emerging sides and international participation, continuing the tournament’s tradition of combining rich heritage with contemporary Indian football. As the home of the Durand Cup since 2019, Kolkata once again forms the centrepiece of the tournament. The city will host two groups along with the inaugural match, two quarter-finals, a semi-final and the Final. All matches will be played across both the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan and the Kishore Bharati Krirangan, with matches scheduled between July 25 and August 23. The Kolkata roster is headlined by …

AIFF wants to change its name to Football Federation of Bharat, approaches govt

AIFF wants to change its name to Football Federation of Bharat, approaches govt

Published by Webster

2 min readUpdated: Jun 20, 2026 08:17 PM IST Indian football’s governing body doesn’t want to call itself the All India Football Federation (AIFF) anymore. The federation said in a statement on Saturday that it will be submit a proposal to the sports ministry to change its name to the Football Federation of Bharat (FFB). Its current name has been in existence since its founding on June 23, 1937. The submission of the proposal was one of many key decisions that it announced after a Special General Body Meeting which was held virtually on Saturday. “It was further resolved that a proposal be submitted to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) for renaming the All India Football Federation (AIFF) as the Football Federation of Bharat (FFB),” said the federation in its statement. Among other key decisions included the announcement of a start date of September 4, 2026 for the 2026/27 season of the Indian Super League, asking clubs to field three foreign players and one holding an Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card, …

Why ISL clubs running the league isn’t a conflict of interest?

AIFF agrees to four-year club-led ISL model after meeting with sports minister

Published by Webster

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has agreed to a club-led model for the Indian Super League (ISL) for the next four seasons following discussions involving club representatives and Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in New Delhi. Under the proposed arrangement, each participating club will contribute ₹1.1 crore per season to the AIFF. If all 14 clubs compete, the federation will receive ₹15.4 crore annually to support its regulatory responsibilities, including refereeing, legal affairs, integrity measures and anti-doping operations. The decision comes after negotiations between the federation and club owners, with sources indicating that AIFF had initially sought a higher financial contribution from clubs. However, the clubs maintained their position and secured support for the club-led framework. Representatives from almost all ISL clubs attended the meeting, with the exception of Jamshedpur FC. Newly promoted Diamond Harbour FC was also present, although uncertainty remains over the club’s participation amid an ongoing investigation into its operations. Promotion and relegation to continue under new structure One of the key outcomes of the discussions was the confirmation that promotion …

India lose 0-2 to Jamaica in Unity Cup, to face Zimbabwe in 3rd place play-off | Football News

India lose 0-2 to Jamaica in Unity Cup, to face Zimbabwe in 3rd place play-off | Football News

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3 min readMay 28, 2026 10:12 AM IST India lost 0-2 to Jamaica in the semifinal of the 2026 Unity Cup at The Valley in London, conceding goals in each half of the match. Khalid Jamil’s men will now face Zimbabwe in the third place playoff on Saturday while Jamaica face Nigeria in a repeat of last year’s final. In what was the first match India played on British soil since 2002, Courtney Clarke’s stunning early strike in the eighth minute and Kaheim Dixon’s solo effort in the 78th minute ensured Jamaica’s entry into the final. Zimbabwe had gone down to Nigeria earlier in the day in the first semi-final. The match marked several important individual moments. Noufal PN and Ricky Shabong made their senior national team debuts, while Edmund Lalrindika was handed his first-ever start for India. A quick Jamaican counter sliced through India’s shape in the eighth minute, forcing Gurpreet Singh Sandhu into a sharp save from a tight angle. Yet the danger was far from over. India failed to clear their lines, …

How Diamond Harbour FC rose to top-tier of Indian football

How Diamond Harbour FC rose to top-tier of Indian football

Published by Webster

In the landscape of Indian football, where new entities rarely get to sit at the same table as the legacy clubs, Diamond Harbour FC has just shattered the status quo. In just three seasons, the Kolkata outfit has leapfrogged from the lower divisions to the promised land of the Indian Super League (ISL), that too by becoming the 2025-26 Indian Football League champions. At the heart of this footballing fairytale is Kibu Vicuna, a man who has turned a project into a national phenomenon. “We have to understand that in four years, we haven’t had a single player who has been with us throughout. So it was an incredible journey to build the team, very fruitful in personal terms and also in sporting terms,” he told The Bridge. Going full circle in Indian Football Vicuna’s pedigree was never in question. Before arriving at Diamond Harbour, he had already left his mark on Indian football. His tenure at Mohun Bagan is still fondly remembered, having guided the Mariners to a dominant I-League title in 2019-20 that …

ISL clubs reconsider their participation in the league due to a lack of clarity

ISL clubs reconsider their participation in the league due to a lack of clarity

Published by Webster

A few of the ISL clubs issued a joint statement on Friday, confirming that they could reconsider their participation in the league due to a lack of clarity about its future. Just a day after the conclusion of one of the most exciting Indian Super League seasons, in which East Bengal FC lifted the title, these clubs have decided to stop their first team’s operations. ” With deep concern and disappointment, the clubs of the Indian Super League wish to state that, given the continued uncertainty surrounding professional football in India, we are now compelled to review the extent of our commitment to the league beyond the current season, ” confirmed 9 of the 14 ISL clubs via a social post. After the end of its long-term deal with FSDL, the AIFF has failed to find a new sponsor for the Indian Super League, putting the future of the league in jeopardy. This uncertainty over the league’s future has left clubs doubting their sustainability amid existing financial, managerial and operational commitments. Hence, the clubs have …

Mohammedan SC becomes the first team to face relegation in ISL

Mohammedan SC becomes the first team to face relegation in ISL

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Mohammedan SC became the first team to face relegation in the Indian Super League after a 0-4 defeat to Mumbai City FC in their penultimate game of the season. The Black Panthers have had a forgettable season, managing just 3 points so far in 12 games and facing relegation after two seasons in the ISL. The Kolkata-based club failed to win a single match this season, registering just 3 draws and 9 defeats. They will face Northeast United in their final game of the season on 19th May. The Islanders set the tone immediately, winning a corner straight from the kick-off and capitalising. Zothanpuia delivered an inviting ball into the box, which was met by Sahil Panwar, who flicked it past goalkeeper Padam Chettri to open the scoring and register his first-ever Indian Super League goal. The Islanders doubled their lead in the 8th minute following a well-worked move which began with a long ball from defence. Vikram received the ball and played it to Zothanpuia, who combined with Jorge Ortiz for a smooth one-two …

Diamond Harbour FC wins the Indian Football League title to earn a promotion to ISL

Diamond Harbour FC wins the Indian Football League title to earn a promotion to ISL

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Late drama unfolded in the closing moments as an injury-time goal from Hugo Díaz earned Diamond Harbour FC a 1-1 draw against Dempo SC at the PJN Stadium in Goa on Sunday. The point helped them clinch the Indian Football League 2025-26 title and continued their fairy tale run, climbing up four tiers in just three seasons and gaining promotion to the top tier, Indian Super League. Needing only a point to wrap up the title, Diamond Harbour were trailing from the 50th minute after Marcus Joseph gave Dempo SC the lead. A goal in the first minute of injury time ensured that they secured 29 points, thus winning their maiden IFL title, with a match to spare. The side from West Bengal won their third promotion in as many seasons after winning the I-League 3 and I-League 2 in the previous campaigns. Diamond Harbour showed signs of nervousness in the opening half hour, misplacing simple passes and lacking clarity in their attacking approach. The first chance of the game came for the home side …

How Kolkata Derby could decide ISL 2025-26 title race?

How Kolkata Derby could decide ISL 2025-26 title race?

Published by Webster

The 2025-26 Indian Super League season is heading towards a dramatic finish. Usually, by the final week of the ISL season, the points table gives a fairly clear indication of who is likely to lift the title. But this season has been anything but predictable. With the league set to conclude on May 21, as many as seven teams, from current table toppers East Bengal FC to seventh-placed Mumbai City FC, remain mathematically in contention for the league title. The ISL follows a single-leg round-robin format this season, where all 14 teams play each other once. Unlike previous editions, there are no playoffs or knockout rounds this year, meaning the team finishing at the top of the table after 91 matches will be crowned champions. And because of that format, every remaining match suddenly feels like a final. Here’s a look at what each of the seven teams needs to do to win the ISL title: East Bengal Points: 22 from 11 matches | Goal Difference: +18 East Bengal FC currently sit at the top …