Why Did Bengaluru FC Suspend Salaries of Players and Staff?

One of India's prestigious clubs, Bengaluru FC, on Monday, announced the indefinite suspension of the salaries of its first-team players and coaching staff as unresolved disputes cast a shadow over the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season. The shocking decision comes at a time when there is a serious uncertainty regarding the ISL's future due to a deadlock between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the body that organises the ISL.

This is a problem not only faced by Bengaluru FC but also by the other eight clubs. They have written to the AIFF expressing their frustration over the lack of communication and planning, warning that the impasse threatens not only livelihoods but the very structure of the sport. Many clubs have had to cancel pre-season training and overseas tours, while players face career and financial uncertainty.

Bengaluru FC Suspend Salaries of Players & Coaching Staff

JSW Group-owned Bengaluru FC called the payment suspension an "extremely difficult" decision but an essential action in an official statement released Monday night. The club emphasised that management has "no choice" but to suspend payments until the matter is settled because of the uncertainty surrounding the status and start of the ISL.

"It has always been difficult to run and maintain a football team in India; we have sacrificed everything and persevered through season after season. But the uncertainty surrounding the league's future forces us to take this move," the statement said, highlighting the club's worry for the well-being of its players and employees and urging Indian football authorities to act immediately. Bengaluru FC is not the only club to take this decision. Previously, Odisha FC has also suspended player contracts, and multiple clubs have pulled out from taking part in the 2025 Durand Cup.

Uncertainty Over ISL 2025-26

The problem is in the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between AIFF and FSDL, which is set to expire in December 2025. Under the terms of the existing agreement, FSDL is in charge of all ISL and Indian football marketing, broadcasting, and commercial rights. The Supreme Court of India has ordered the AIFF to hold off on signing any new agreements until the court has finalised the federation's constitution, which has caused the renewal talks to halt. Clubs are unable to commit to their players and personnel because of this legal impasse, which has essentially stopped logistical planning for the league's upcoming season. When the SC will issue the ruling that it reserved on April 30 is still unknown.