ISL fails to attract any bids, plunging Indian Football into crisis

Vartha Bharati | 11-11-2025 | 18:45:00 IST

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) plunged into unprecedented uncertainty after its tender for the Indian Super League (ISL) ended without attracting a single bid. Once hailed as the cornerstone of football’s growth in India, the ISL’s inability to find an investor has exposed severe structural and financial vulnerabilities across the sport’s ecosystem.

The AIFF’s attempt to secure a new partner for broadcasting, sponsorship, and merchandising rights began with optimism in October. Four parties signalled interest and participated in the pre-bid meeting, pressing the federation for clarity on revenue and operations. However, the initial excitement fizzled out as the deadline approached, leaving the tender box empty. Key concerns among potential bidders included the financial structure of the league, vague revenue-sharing proposals, and fears over long-term planning and club income streams.

Central to the problem was the federation’s demand: a minimum annual payment of Rs 37.5 crore or 5 percent of gross revenue for 15 years, combined with operational responsibilities from league production to grassroots development. Experts described these terms as untenable for a league still struggling to stabilize viewership and commercial returns. The result is a vacuum in leadership and funding for Indian football at a critical juncture, just after the men’s national team failed to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup.

With no commercial partner or stable financial plan, the ISL’s future, India’s broader football ambitions now hangs in the balance. Grassroots programmes, national teams, and league administration face immediate disruption. Trust between the AIFF and its stakeholders continues to erode, fueled further by last minute governance controversies, including a Supreme Court petition against the bid committee’s leadership. The failed tender signals challenges much larger than one league, raising urgent questions about the direction and credibility of Indian football’s administrators.

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Karnataka issues nutrition advisory for govt events; recommends millets, healthier options

13-04-2026 ¦ 13-04-2026 IST

Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government on Monday issued a nutrition advisory recommending healthier food and beverage options at meetings, functions, and other official gatherings held in the state.

The advisory has been issued by the Department of Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Services to promote healthy dietary and nutritional habits among officials and staff, noting that food, refreshments and beverages served in government offices and official programmes are "often not aligned with nutrition standards."

The advisory recommends serving snacks such as millet-based, low-fat and low-sugar foods, fresh fruits, vegetable salads, sprouts, roasted nuts and seeds during in-house office meetings and breaks.

Beverages such as green tea, low-fat buttermilk, and locally filtered or boiled water served in glass bottles or steel flasks have also been suggested.

According to the advisory, for larger government events, conferences and exhibitions, departments have been advised to include at least one millet-based item during snacks and a minimum of two millet dishes in meals, along with local cuisine and at least one regional recipe.

It also recommends the use of brown rice instead of white rice, freshly prepared vegetable salads, and fresh fruits or low-sugar fruit juices.

If non-vegetarian food is served, it should consist of well-cooked lean or white meat, the advisory stated.

In eateries operating within government office campuses, the department has recommended millet-based foods, fresh vegetable salads, boiled pulses such as horse gram or chickpeas, and low-fat beverages.

It suggests serving food using reusable metal plates and glasses.

The advisory also recommends avoiding microwave-heated food, industrially processed food, fried snacks, high-fat or heavily spiced dishes, carbonated drinks, high-sugar fruit juices, and alcoholic beverages.

It further discourages serving milk-based tea or coffee and plastic-bottled water during official events.

“Overall, hygiene and cleanliness should be maintained while serving food and water. Local cottage industries, self-help groups, prison kitchens, nutri-gardens and others should be preferred for placing food and beverage orders,” the advisory added.