The All India Football Federation has proposed a revamped governance framework for the Indian Super League, introducing a 22-member governing council that will act as the league’s top supervisory authority. Under the proposal, the council will be chaired by either the AIFF president or vice-president and will be responsible for overseeing the overall governance and strategic direction of India’s premier men’s football competition.
According to the proposed ISL Governance Charter, the governing council will include representation from all 14 participating ISL clubs, three senior AIFF officials, two independent members and three representatives from the league’s commercial partner. The independent members must have no commercial ties with AIFF, the clubs or the league’s commercial rights holder, ensuring neutral oversight within the apex body.
Below the governing council, a management committee with a minimum of 11 members will be formed to handle the league’s day-to-day operations. This committee will be led by the AIFF secretary-general or deputy secretary-general and will include representatives from five ISL clubs. Two of these positions are reserved for the teams that finished first and second in the previous regular season, which for the 2025–26 campaign would be Mohun Bagan Super Giant and FC Goa.
The governing council will have the authority to supervise the management committee, including reviewing league governance matters, monitoring compliance, approving procurement procedures and sanctioning programmes that materially affect clubs. Decisions at the council level will be passed by a simple majority, provided at least two affirmative votes come from AIFF members. Any amendments to the governance charter can only be made by the governing council itself.
The management committee will be responsible for operational matters such as sponsorship discussions, budget preparation and commercial agreements. Contracts exceeding ₹1 crore or lasting more than three years will require approval through a simple majority vote that includes at least one affirmative AIFF vote. Similar voting requirements will apply to broadcast agreements, commercial rights partnerships and budget deviations exceeding 10 percent of the approved allocation.
Revenue distribution and prize money decisions will carry a higher threshold, requiring approval from 75 percent of committee members present and voting, along with at least two affirmative votes from AIFF representatives. The proposal also outlines a structured meeting schedule, with the governing council required to meet at least once annually before the start of the ISL season, while the management committee must convene at least once every month.
Members appointed to both the governing council and the management committee will serve three-season terms. In the event of a club’s relegation, its nominated representative’s term will end, with the newly promoted club gaining representation for the remainder of the term. Dissolution of either body can only be carried out by the AIFF executive committee.
The governance proposal has been shared with all 14 ISL clubs, and AIFF is seeking feedback and nominations before finalising the structure ahead of the upcoming season, which is scheduled to begin on February 14 and will feature relegation as part of the competition format.