Indian Footballers Unite: Players Appeal For ISL Revival, Say “We Just Want To Play”

New Delhi: India ke top football players ne Tuesday ko ek joint statement jaari karke administrators se appeal ki hai ki Indian Super League (ISL) season ko jaldi se jaldi restart kiya jaye. Players ne kaha ki unka “anger aur frustration” ab desperation mein badal gaya hai, aur ab unhe bas khelna hai.

Yeh appeal tab aayi jab All India Football Federation (AIFF) ne pichle hafte bataya ki unhe ISL ke commercial rights ke liye koi bhi bid nahi mili. AIFF ne October 16 ko ek Request for Proposal (RFP) invite ki thi — jisme 15 saal ke contract ke liye proposals mangaye gaye the taaki league ke media aur commercial rights ko monetize kiya ja sake.

“We Need Action Now,” Says Sandesh Jhingan

Star defender Sandesh Jhingan ne social media par ek video post karte hue kaha, “Ab yeh sirf delay nahi hai — yeh standstill ban gaya hai coaches, fans, staff aur players ke liye. Humne bohot mehnat ki hai, bohot kuch sacrifice kiya hai. Hum apna season yunhi khamoshi mein khatam nahi hone denge.”

Unhone aur kaha, “Poora Indian football ecosystem uncertainty mein latka hua hai. Sapne ruk gaye hain, future question mark pe hai. Har din jo hum wait kar rahe hain, Indian football khoon baha raha hai. Humein ab action chahiye.”

Sunil Chhetri aur Gurpreet Singh Sandhu Ka Support

Team India ke senior footballers Sunil Chhetri aur Gurpreet Singh Sandhu ne bhi ek joint text statement share karke players ki unity dikhayi. Statement mein likha tha, “Hum sab professional footballers ek saath aa rahe hain ek hi message ke saath — humein ISL season chahiye, abhi chahiye. Hum sirf ek baat kehna chahte hain — humein khelna hai.”

Unhone likha, “Humara frustration aur distress ab desperation mein badal gaya hai. Hum sirf apni family aur fans ke saamne woh game khelna chahte hain jise hum sabse zyada pyaar karte hain.”

Sunil Chhetri ne Instagram par likha, “Hum sab shoulder to shoulder khade hain, taiyaar hain kuch bhi karne ke liye taaki football wapas aa sake.”

Players’ Message To AIFF: “Bring Back Competitive Football”

Statement ne administrators se appeal ki, “Yeh ek humble request hai un sabse jo India mein football chala rahe hain — kuch bhi karke football season ko restart karo. Desh ko ab apna football chahiye, pehle se zyada.”

Players ne kaha, “Hum ready hain — professional hain — aur pitch pe wapas jaane ke liye bas ek signal chahiye. Humein bas itna hi chahiye ki jo log hamare game ko chala rahe hain, woh bhi utni hi honest intent dikhayein.”

AIFF Faces Fresh Challenge

AIFF ke Bid Evaluation Committee, jise retired Justice Nageswara Rao lead kar rahe hain, ab apni report Supreme Court ko dene wali hai. Court puri process ko monitor kar rahi hai.

RFP ke key features mein included tha — franchise fee waiver 2025-26 se, VAR system ka introduction, promotion aur relegation ka implementation, aur Rs 18 crore per club salary cap.

Ab AIFF ke liye sabse bada challenge hai ISL ke liye ek naya commercial partner dhundhna. 2014 mein launch hua Indian Super League ek time pe India ka top football event tha — lekin ab uski commercial viability aur future par sawal uth rahe hain, especially FSDL ke contract ke khatam hone ke baad.