Why Mohammedan SC Hit With FIFA Ban Ahead Of ISL 2025-26?

Mohammedan SC had a pretty forgettable first season in the Indian Super League (ISL) in the 2024/25 season after being promoted to the competition following their success in the I-League. After being promoted upwards into the top division of the Indian football system, the Black Panthers finished in last place in the league stages of the competition. To make things much worse for them ahead of the 2025/26 season, the Black Panthers have now been struck with a FIFA sanction because of certain financial issues within the club.

Why Have Mohammedan SC Been Struck With A FIFA Ban?

Mohammedan SC were promoted to the ISL in 2024 after they were able to win the 2023-24 I-League title, which allowed them an automatic qualification into the top division of the Indian football scene. However, things soon started to go really wrong for the Kolkata club after they were granted a place in the Indian Super League. They failed to perform at the same level as some of the top teams in the ISL and couldn't even win games at a regular interval.

The Black Panthers finished the 2024-25 ISL campaign in 13th place, at the bottom of the table. However, their troubles were not only restricted to the on-pitch issues. That is because the Mohammedan SC management started getting involved in major issues with the club's majority investor, the Shrachi Group, which ended up severing ties with the club. Hence, the Black Panthers were left in financial turmoil as a result of the financial backing of their investor.

As a result, the club got into trouble for failing to pay the wages of their employees. Mohammedan SC's former midfielder Mirjalol Kasimov complained of the club failing to pay him his wages and took the case to FIFA. The governing body ended up placing a transfer ban on Mohammedan SC in 2025, but their troubles were only amplified after that. Moreover, the club also failed to settle financial dues of their former head coach, Andrey Chernyshov, and multiple players, who approached FIFA and forced the governing body to take action against them.

How Will Mohammedan SC Be Impacted By FIFA Sanctions?

FIFA have now confirmed that Mohammedan SC are among the newest clubs to be sanctioned for breaking their rules. The Black Panthers have been struck with a punishment that will see them banned from being able to register any new players, be they Indian or foreigners, for the next three registration periods (or transfer windows).

That means Mohammedan SC won't be able to register any new players for the 2026 winter transfer window (that usually happens in January), as well as the 2026 summer transfer window. They are unlikely to be able to register any new players in the 2027 January transfer window either, putting the club into utmost turmoil. The inability to register new players can leave Mohammedan SC in an extremely vulnerable position and without a competitive squad ahead of the 2025-26 Indian Super League, which is itself currently surrounded in uncertainty. Mohammedan SC can get rid of this ban if they're able to sign an agreement with new investors, who are ready to clear the financial dues of their players and coaches, and convince FIFA to lift the ban.