After months of speculation and uncertainty, India’s premier domestic football tournament, the Indian Super League (ISL), is finally set to kick off its upcoming season. While the league has successfully sold its broadcasting rights, the financial picture for the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has taken a dramatic turn for the worse.
For the forthcoming season, Fancode has secured the rights to broadcast ISL matches for a total of ₹8.62 crore, translating to just ₹9.5 lakh per match for the federation. This marks a staggering decline from previous years, where the AIFF used to receive approximately ₹275 crore per season from broadcasting deals over the last decade. In monetary terms, the federation faces a shortfall of ₹266.38 crore, equivalent to a 97 per cent drop in revenue.
Historically, an ISL season featured 163 matches, with the federation earning around ₹1.68 crore per match. In contrast, the upcoming season will see a 95 per cent reduction in per-match earnings, signalling a serious blow to the league’s financial stability.
The situation becomes even more striking when ISL revenues are compared with the Indian Premier League (IPL). The broadcasting value of a single IPL match dwarfs that of an ISL fixture, with an IPL match worth 1,242 times more, while the revenue AIFF will receive per match is 5,613 times lower than what the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) earns from IPL broadcasts.
The following table illustrates the stark contrast between ISL and IPL revenues:
| Metric | ISL (per match) | IPL (per match) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broadcast value | ₹9.5 lakh | ₹11.8 crore | 1,242× higher for IPL |
| Governing body revenue | ₹9.5 lakh | ₹53.3 crore | 5,613× higher for IPL |
| Matches per season | 163 | 75 | – |
Industry analysts have described this dramatic revenue decline as a major challenge for the commercial model of Indian football. Clubs and the federation alike may face financial strain, particularly as broadcast income constitutes a significant portion of their budgets.
Experts suggest that unless the ISL can expand its viewership, brand value, and international appeal, the financial gap compared to cricket will remain vast. With clubs heavily reliant on broadcast deals, the federation’s ability to negotiate better contracts in the future will be crucial for the league’s long-term viability.
As the season approaches, the focus will not only be on the action on the pitch but also on how Indian football navigates one of the most severe financial downturns in its history. Stakeholders will need to innovate and strategise to ensure that the league remains sustainable and attractive to sponsors and fans alike.