Sports Minister says Indian football is making excellent progress. But where?

If you are an Indian football fan reading that line, there is a fair chance you are wondering whether you have just walked into some elaborate ragebait. It is, in fact, a comment made by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya while speaking about Indian football.

The Indian Super League will return, as Mandaviya said, but the bigger picture around Indian football remains far more difficult than that one fact suggests. While the ISL is finding a way back, clubs are struggling to make the numbers work, investors are stepping.

What Happened

The commercial agreement between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), which had been central to the league's operation, expired before the previous season. The season, which was initially expected to begin in September, eventually ran from.

• The uncertainty around the commercial structure contributed to a drastically shortened 2025-26 campaign.

• Industry estimates suggest ISL clubs are losing around ₹25-30 crore per season, while broadcast revenues have fallen sharply.

• The reported per-match valuation dropped from around ₹1.68 crore in 2024-25 to ₹9.5 lakh last season.

Key Details

That meant fewer matches and fewer opportunities to generate revenue for clubs that were already carrying substantial operating costs. The new club-led commercial model is meant to give teams greater control over their own revenues, sponsorships and broadcasting arrangements.

• But neither explains how Indian football, at this moment, can be described as making "excellent progress".

• Either these are being consciously overlooked, or the people overseeing Indian sport simply aren't aware of how bad things have become.

• There was no mention of Jamshedpur FC's withdrawal, the financial strain on ISL clubs, the collapse in broadcast revenues, the commercial uncertainty or even the Ranjit Bajaj-Bibiano Fernandes mess.

Why It Matters

That could eventually prove to be a positive change. The uncertainty is not restricted to the club game.

• But when the conversation turned to Indian football, his answer was limited to the ISL returning and new clubs being formed.

• Mandaviya spoke at length about India's preparations for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, including facilities being developed to help athletes perform well.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by India Today as more details emerge