Krisis Finansial AIFF Picu Ancaman Boikot Lima Klub Liga Super India

Lima klub Liga Super India (ISL) mengancam akan meninjau ulang partisipasi mereka akibat ketidakpastian struktur jangka panjang dan masa depan komersial sepak bola di India pada Jumat (22/5/2026).

Ketegangan mencuat antara All India Football Federation (AIFF) dan Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) terkait kontrak kerja sama finansial yang belum terselesaikan musim ini.

"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," ujar pernyataan bersama klub-klub ISL.

Manajemen internal tim peserta dilaporkan kesulitan mempertahankan operasional akibat penundaan pembayaran hak pemain hingga pemutusan kontrak sepihak.

"Our clubs have consistently invested in Indian football, often in difficult and uncertain circumstances, and remain deeply committed to its future. However, the continued absence of structural certainty, commercial clarity and long-term visibility has made it increasingly difficult to justify the financial and operational commitments required to compete sustainably," kata pernyataan bersama klub-klub ISL.

Para pemilik modal mengkritik otoritas liga yang dinilai gagal memberikan jaminan kelayakan investasi jangka panjang bagi pertumbuhan kompetisi domestik.

"Indian football has the foundation to be far greater than it is today. It is therefore disappointing that those who have built, funded, promoted and sustained the league continue to face uncertainty over the very structure within which they are expected to operate," tambah pernyataan bersama klub-klub ISL.

Asosiasi klub menuntut pembentukan kerangka kerja baru yang inklusif agar ekosistem sepak bola nasional dapat berjalan secara mandiri dan sehat.

"At the heart of Indian football's future must be a financially sustainable league. The clubs have proposed an alternative model which we believe is credible, constructive and worthy of being evaluated on merit, alongside any other proposal before the AIFF. We urge the AIFF to acknowledge the realities faced by those funding and operating the league, and work collaboratively towards a framework that is sustainable, inclusive and built with all stakeholders in mind," lanjut pernyataan bersama klub-klub ISL.

Seorang petinggi klub yang enggan disebutkan namanya menyatakan bahwa para pemilik modal membutuhkan kepastian target bisnis yang jelas dari federasi.

"Owners know that it is impossible to breakeven but they would at least like to be told there is light at the end of the tunnel, however long that tunnel is," kata seorang CEO klub.

Ketidakjelasan ini juga memicu hengkangnya sejumlah staf kepelatihan dari kompetisi kasta tertinggi di India tersebut.

"the lack of clarity about the next season is why he would be stepping away," ujar Oscar Bruzon, Pelatih East Bengal.

Di tengah krisis komersial, AIFF juga menghadapi gugatan hukum internal terkait pelaksanaan Sidang Umum Luar Biasa (SGM) yang dinilai melanggar kuorum.

“…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,” kata Valanka Alemao, Anggota Komite Eksekutif AIFF.

Gugatan tersebut mendesak pemenuhan keterwakilan mantan pemain dalam struktur kepengurusan sesuai mandat Mahkamah Agung India.

“…the SGM cannot be held without completing the quorum of general body members as per Article 20 of the AIFF Constitution (as approved by the Hon’ble Supreme Court)," tegas Valanka Alemao, Anggota Komite Eksekutif AIFF.

Masalah regulasi ini sebelumnya membuat manajer interim Kerala Blasters, Ashley Westwood, menolak membahas perpanjangan kontrak permanen setelah mengalahkan FC Goa 1-0 pada Senin (18/5/2026).

"They are a top-ranked side and have some very good Indian national players and experienced foreign players. We have to go out and give our best and try to win the match," ucap Ashley Westwood, Head Coach Kerala Blasters.

Westwood menginstruksikan skuadnya untuk tetap menjaga profesionalisme dan menyelesaikan sisa kompetisi dengan performa terbaik.

"Nothing's guaranteed in football. You have to work hard first and foremost. You have to match physicality and physical outputs. But at the end of the day, let's not finish the season on a down. We've been on an upward trajectory since the day I got here and just keep the momentum going, give it your all and let's not sit in two or three days' time where we're regretting things that we didn't give our everything to get the result. If we don't get it, that's fine as long as we give it our best," jelas Ashley Westwood, Head Coach Kerala Blasters.

Manajemen Kerala Blasters dilaporkan telah berulang kali meminta pertemuan untuk menyodorkan ikatan kerja jangka panjang kepada juru taktik asal Inggris tersebut.

"To be honest, the management have asked me a couple of times for meetings," kata Ashley Westwood, Pelatih Interim Kerala Blasters.

Namun, pelatih yang bertugas sejak Maret 2026 itu memilih fokus menyelesaikan durasi kontrak pendeknya yang menyisakan beberapa laga.

"But me personally, when I came here, I said, listen, I am coming to help. I have got seven games, let me focus on seven games, let me give as much as I can. And when everything is finished, when the dust settles, you know, we can sit down and talk about the future," ujar Ashley Westwood, Pelatih Interim Kerala Blasters.

Sikap Westwood didasari atas aksi boikot klub terhadap tawaran hak siar senilai 64,4 crore rupee per tahun dari perusahaan Inggris, Genius Sports.

"I am one of these people who is very straight, very honest and I do not want to enter any conversations until we know the future. And at the minute, as it stands, no one knows the future of Indian football. So, why speak about ifs, buts, maybes? Once all the facts are in, then I will be ready to talk," tegas Ashley Westwood, Pelatih Interim Kerala Blasters.

Westwood memastikan seluruh program latihan anak asuhnya akan tetap berjalan normal sembari menunggu kepastian regulasi ekosistem liga.

"But until then, I concentrate on football and you never know when your last day can be in any job, in any position. So, we just keep training, keep playing and once we know the landscape, let us sit and talk," tambah Ashley Westwood, Pelatih Interim Kerala Blasters.

Di pihak lawan, pelatih FC Goa Manolo Marquez membenarkan adanya kebijakan rotasi pemain yang ia terapkan untuk susunan starter dalam laga tandang tersebut.

"Some changes will be there among the starters but that’s not important," ungkap Manolo Marquez, Pelatih FC Goa.

Marquez menyatakan bahwa perombakan skuad bukan alasan untuk tampil tidak kompetitif melawan tuan rumah yang tampil penuh percaya diri.

"We need to be competitive (regardless of the changes). We face a team that is most motivated in the competition, even more than the teams who are fighting for the title. They have changed some foreign players and they are now better. They are playing with confidence. The crowd is also there and now more supporters will be at the stadium. It will be a nice farewell game of the season," tutur Manolo Marquez, Pelatih FC Goa.

Klub-klub ISL mengajukan proposal agar Genius Sports hanya bertindak sebagai mitra teknologi, sementara 90 persen keuntungan ekonomi dikuasai klub.

Pejabat tinggi AIFF dijadwalkan mengadakan pertemuan langsung dengan para pemilik serta perwakilan klub ISL untuk membahas polemik hak komersial ini.