The All India Football Federation (AIFF) will convene a Special General Body Meeting on Saturday to amend its constitution in line with the National Sports Governance Act 2025. According to the notice issued on May 6, the meeting will address the commercial partners for Indian Super League, Indian Women's League and Super League (Cup). Each member association of the AIFF can send one representative, while members of the AIFF Executive Committee cannot vote and cannot represent the associations to which they belong.
AIFF's executive committee member Valanka Alemao has objected to the SGM being convened, arguing it could potentially flout the constitution and lead to contempt of the Supreme Court. In a legal notice sent to the AIFF, she stated that "the AIFF despite adopting the said Constitution as directed by Hon'ble Supreme Court ... has called for a SGM without filling the vacancies for eminent sportspersons and thus is in violation both of its own Constitution and also in contempt of the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court." The SGM cannot be held without completing the quorum of general body members as per Article 20 of the AIFF Constitution. Alemao has urged that the AIFF should first constitute the associations for players, coaches and referees to elect their representatives who, in turn, would be members of the General Body as per provisions of the new constitution as approved by the Supreme Court.
Regarding the commercial partner of the ISL, Genius Sports had emerged as the highest bidder in March, promising ₹2,129 crore annually for the next 15+5 years. However, ISL clubs have reportedly gained significant support for a club-led commercial model where Genius Sports would remain only as the league's data and technology partner rather than controlling the overall commercial ecosystem. The clubs are pushing for 90% of the economic interest in the league structure while AIFF retains the remaining portion. Top officials of the AIFF are expected to meet ISL club owners and representatives ahead of the SGM to discuss these commercial arrangements, with the club-led model now gathering substantial support among the clubs despite the ongoing disputes.
Under the AIFF constitution, the General Body shall comprise one representative from every member association, 15 eminent players out of which minimum five to be women, three club representatives, one each from ISL, I-League and Indian Women's League, two representatives from referees (one male and one female) and two representatives from coaches (one male and one female). Alemao emphasized that the AIFF constitution expressly mandates that eminent player representatives should be elected from the National Players Association constituted as per Schedule IV, while coaches' and referees' representatives are required to be elected through procedures governed by the AIFF Election Committee. Alemao argued that player, referee and coach associations have not yet been properly constituted and therefore the quorum requirements of the General Body remain incomplete.
The commercial rights dispute has become more urgent following the uncertainty that surrounded the 2025-26 ISL season after the expiry of the Master Rights Agreement between AIFF and FSDL. The deadlock delayed the start of the league by several months and forced the season into a heavily shortened 13-match format, creating major financial and operational problems across clubs. The issue has become even more sensitive as Indian football continues to battle administrative uncertainty, legal complications and growing concerns regarding the long-term stability of the ISL itself. Despite the objections, the meeting is expected to proceed at a time when Indian football faces one of its most chaotic seasons in ISL history.
