Why Did City Football Group end partnership with Mumbai City FC? Reason Revealed

Indian Super League 2025-26, which is the top-tier Indian football league, hasn't started yet, and AIFF and Mr Kalyan Chaubey haven't given any clarity on when it will start. The league calendar is still uncertain, commercial and broadcasting are missing, and the confusion is increasing. Now, Indian football might face another backlash, as many credible sources, like Khel Now, have reported that the All India Football Federation (AIFF) currently has approx 20 crore Indian rupees in its bank account.

Despite this, the federation has plans to spend approx 51 crores between January and May 2026, almost the same amount it claims to hold in reserves.

In light of the financial crisis and the uncertainty of the administration, some credible sources are revealing that City Football Group, the global football corporation that owns Premier League side Manchester City FC and ISL side Mumbai City FC, are set to exit the ISL side. Once the process is completed, Mumbai City FC will return to full ownership under the Bollywood actor, Ranbir Kapoor, and the heavyweight businessman, Bimal Parekh.

Why Did CFG and Mumbai City FC Part Ways?

The decision made by CFG coincides with an internal conflict within the group and tensions between the club's hierarchy. Key proposals from ISL and I-League clubs that investigated club-led ownership or an operational model for the league were formally rejected by the AIFF earlier this week.

CFG's departure is seen by many in Indian football as more than just a single club changing hands; rather, it is a reflection of a system in which long-term investors have lost faith in stability, governance, or commercial direction. If a multinational organisation with experience on several continents decides not to stay, it raises concerns about how Indian football is being managed and who will be interested in making future investments.

How Can It Affect Indian Football?

City Football Group's decision is another major blow to Indian football at a time when the Indian Super League's future remains unclear. The departure of one of the most powerful football ownership groups in the world, coupled with an unconfirmed schedule and ambiguous business arrangements, sends a concerning message to the club's management.

CFG entered Indian football in November 2019 after acquiring a 65% stake in the ISL outfit, Mumbai. Under CFG, Mumbai adopted a more professional, data-driven approach to recruitment and operations. The results were visible from the start, as Mumbai City created history by winning the ISL trophy and the shield and became the first club to achieve the double in a single season.