ISL Stars Make Desperate Plea to FIFA Amid League's Uncertainty: 'Save Indian Football'

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As the 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) season teeters on the brink of collapse, a group of top ISL players, including Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Sunil Chhetri, have issued a joint plea to FIFA, calling for urgent intervention to resolve the ongoing crisis. With the league's future hanging in the balance, the players warned that Indian football is facing a 'humanitarian, sporting, and economic crisis' that requires immediate attention. They emphasized that their plea is not driven by politics, but by necessity, and urged FIFA to step in and provide the necessary support to save the league. The players' appeal comes as 13 of the 14 ISL clubs informed the All India Football Federation (AIFF) that they will only participate in the delayed season if there is no participation fee and the national body takes financial responsibility for the organizational and operational costs. The clubs have also requested a one-time clearance from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for not meeting the 24-game eligibility rule. The ISL players' plea highlights the dire situation faced by Indian football, where clubs, players, staff, owners, and fans are all demanding clarity, protection, and a future. With the league's delay threatening to derail the country's football development, the players are pinning their hopes on FIFA's intervention to prevent a permanent paralysis of the sport. As the clock ticks down, the Indian football community holds its breath, hoping that FIFA will respond to the players' plea and provide the necessary support to save the league. The fate of Indian football hangs in the balance, and the world is watching.