Bengaluru FC suspends salaries, including Sunil Chhetri’s, amid ISL deadlock; AIFF to meet clubs on Aug 7

Bengaluru FC, one of India’s most recognised football clubs, has suspended salaries for all first-team players and support staff with immediate effect. The announcement was made on Monday, 4 August, through the club’s official channels.

"In view of the uncertainty surrounding the future of the Indian Super League season, Bengaluru Football Club has taken what is a very difficult decision of indefinitely suspending the salaries of players and staff belonging to the First Team," the club said in a statement.

"Running and sustaining a football club in India has always been an uphill climb, one that we have put everything aside and made, season after season."


The club added, "However, the lack of clarity on the League's future leaves us with no choice but to take this step. The future and well-being of our players, staff, and their families is of utmost importance to us, and we are in touch with them as we wait for a resolution."

The move impacts high-profile names including Sunil Chhetri, one of Indian football’s most influential figures and Bengaluru FC's long-time captain.

Youth and grassroots not affected

Bengaluru FC confirmed that this decision only affects the first-team squad. All youth teams, women’s teams, and the BFC Soccer Schools will continue as planned.

"The Club remains committed to growing and developing the sport and our operations with our youth teams – men and women – and BFC Soccer Schools remain unaffected by this decision," the statement read.

"We urge the AIFF and FSDL to end this impasse swiftly. The uncertainty benefits no one, and a prompt resolution is vital for the future of Indian football."

Indian Super League standoff behind the freeze

At the centre of this crisis is the Indian Super League itself, which currently stands suspended. The disruption follows a breakdown in talks between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the league’s organisers and commercial partners.

The deadlock is tied to the 15-year Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between the two bodies, which is set to expire on 18 December 2025. However, the AIFF cannot initiate discussions on new terms until the Supreme Court rules on the federation's draft constitution. That legal restriction has left the future of the league hanging, with clubs now facing operational and financial strain.

Eight clubs demand urgent action

The suspension of the ISL has sparked concern among club executives across the league. Eight ISL clubs have formally written to the AIFF, expressing alarm over the “current status and direction” of Indian football. They’re demanding clarity not only on the league's next season but on the larger roadmap for the sport.

In response, the AIFF has called for a meeting with the CEOs of all eight clubs. The meeting is scheduled for 7 August in New Delhi. The federation hopes to find common ground and rescue what’s left of the 2025–26 season.

Players voice their concerns

The growing uncertainty has not gone unnoticed by those on the pitch. On 16 July, Sunil Chhetri publicly shared his thoughts on the situation through a post on X, formerly Twitter.

“It began with worrying about how I am on borrowed time with what I have left in the tank. But speaking with players from across clubs, I’ve realised that my selfish problem isn’t as important,” he wrote.

“Everybody in the Indian football ecosystem is worried, hurt, scared about the uncertainty we are faced with.”

His comments echoed the frustration many players and coaches are currently feeling — unable to plan, prepare or even be paid, as decisions stall at the highest levels.

What was once seen as a pathway to professionalise Indian football now faces a crossroads. With the ISL halted, club operations thrown into disarray, and the governing bodies locked in legal and commercial limbo, the sport’s immediate future remains uncertain.

Until the Supreme Court weighs in and the AIFF and FSDL resume talks, clubs like Bengaluru FC are left to make tough calls. For now, it’s the players, coaches, and support staff who are feeling the weight of that uncertainty the most.