New Delhi: According to the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) centralized registration system, at least 148 of India’s top-level players will be without contracts at the end of the month. Clubs are wary of offering extensions because of the uncertainty of the future. One of these players is Indian captain Sandesh Jhangan.gave FC Goa The defender is unable to discuss his future after June, when the Indian team will play in the Unity Cup, followed by friendlies against Palestine and Tajikistan.“A few days ago, I was asked, ‘What’s the plan?’ And I said, ‘In June, we have the international team and then, I don’t know, pack your stuff, and go to Chandigarh,'” the centre-back said.“You don’t know where to go after this season. There’s pain, and it’s easy to judge from the outside that we’re pampered, we’re spoiled, but we’re also trying to raise our family, provide for them,” he continued.The 32-year-old has traveled the country, played in multiple divisions, won two Super Cup titles (with FC Goa) and the Federation Cup (with Bangalore FC). I his journey Indian Super League (ISL) has also seen him play for Kerala Blasters and ATK Mohun Bagan.
File photo of FC Goa defender Sandesh Jhangan (L). (ISL)
The unfamiliar feeling of not knowing has upset not only the jhangan but the entire ecosystem. As the AIFF tries to onboard a new commercial partner, with clubs at loggerheads and proposing its own models, there is no roadmap for the 2026-27 season.Unfortunately for Indian football, it has been at a similar juncture before. After the FSDL contract expired in December, the club and the AIFF could not agree on several aspects until the sports ministry intervened. After all, the truncated season began on February 14 and concluded on Thursday, with the title race going down to the final day.Despite the excitement of the title race — with five clubs in contention — there is an emerging reality that clubs may be forced to close unless economic realities change.“I have the same tension,” admitted Jhangan when asked to compare the December-January scenario with the current one. “But you try to keep a smile on your face because you’re strong. To any neutral person, it must be worse than January.”“At that time, we had some hope that the league would start anyway. But now we are facing a shutdown. Many jobs will be lost,” he said.However, he tries to maintain a brave face as a leader, and acts as a Sandesh ‘paaji’ to youngsters like Boris Singh. Boris, 26, hails from Imphal and, like Sandesh, is out of contract at the end of the month.
Boris Singh (R) of FC Goa in a training session. (Instagram)
“The league and the AIFF should discuss this issue as soon as possible. I can’t say anything because it’s not in my hands. So I think they should resolve the issue as soon as possible with the players who are working. And there are many people working behind the club. We are worried. I’m worried, everyone is worried.”“We talk about it in the dressing room when we have time. So it’s kind of disappointing. But I just hope that everything goes quickly, for the next 15-20 years, I don’t know, whatever they plan,” Boris said.In this situation he turns to ‘Sandesh Paaji’ for guidance.“I’m asking Sandesh Paaji, ‘When are we going to know when the next season is going to happen?’ He tells me that the league will definitely happen, but we don’t know when we will start. And they (AIFF) are negotiating with many commercial partners, and the clubs will agree, the AIFF will agree, both will agree. But he doesn’t know either, you know. They say, ‘Don’t worry, everything will be fine, the solution will come soon.“‘Hope for the situation to improve for Indian players’
Serbia’s Dejan Dražić will be out of contract at FC Goa on May 31. (Instagram)
The dire situation also applies to Serbia’s Dejan Dražić. The left winger has played 12 games this ISL season, scoring six goals and providing three assists. With his contract expiring on May 31, the 30-year-old does not know if he will add to his tally at FC Goa.“Football is the most popular sport in the world. A country like India, with so many people, with so much future, they don’t have a normal league, or they don’t know the future of football. “When people in Europe ask what happened, I don’t know what to say,” Drezic said.The Serb-Croat is aware of the privilege he enjoys because of his EU passport. Having joined FC Goa from Cypriot club Ethnikos in 2024, Drazic knows he has the option of returning to Europe and continuing to play – an option not easy for the Indians in the squad.
When people in Europe ask what happened, I don’t know what to say
FC Goa’s Dejan Drazic on the state of Indian football
It is not easy for an Indian player to leave India. For me I can find options, but for them it is very difficult. And this is what I can not understand that no one cares about them. If one club were to disappear, imagine how many families would be affected. This is unacceptable,” he added.With an option available to explore his future elsewhere, Drezic has decided to stay with FC Goa for now. Boris, meanwhile, is not averse to considering offers from Europe or Asia, provided the project appeals to them.Jhangan, who has 73 caps with India, will unite with the national team squad for the pre-Unity Cup camp in the UK and the AIFF-club standoff will be a strong undertone.“You can have your opinion, I showed it very publicly after everything started in September. I don’t know about other things, at least my opinion can have an impact, but am I involved in the decision-making? No, there are people who decide… but that’s how it is,” Jhangan said.
