New Delhi: In progress. Indian Super League The (ISL) season is in its ninth matchday with Mohun Bagan Supergiant leading the standings. They have Mumbai City FC, FC Goa, East Bengal FC, Bengaluru FC and Jamshedpur FC hot on their heels. At the other end, Mohammedan Sporting are in prime position to go down. But the league table only tells half the story.Mohammedan Sporting have played eight games so far and have one point to show – a draw against Odisha FC on April 17. Only two of the eight have come at home — against FC Goa (0-2 on February 20) and Bengaluru FC (1-2 on March 7). Based on the current fixture list, by the end of the season, they will have played just three home games.
Although it goes without saying, house advantage is important. Just ask two other Bengal clubs. Of Mohun Bagan The super giants have had nine games and 20 points, five at home, giving them 12 points. East Bengal have played seven out of eight home games overall, picking up 12 points out of 15 in the process.East Bengal’s next ‘home’ match, against Odisha FC, will be played in Goa due to the elections in West Bengal. They will return to home base on May 11 to face Punjab FC. In total, 9 of East Bengal’s 12 matches will be played at home.Inequality is not limited to ISL. Rajasthan United, who finished third in Stage 1 of the Indian Football League and boast the best home record, will be denied that momentum into the championship stage. After the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Directive on Mandatory FloodlightsRUFC will instead play their home matches 500 km away at the Namdhari facilities in Ludhiana.
Mohun Bagan Super Giants are at the top of the ISL standings. (AIFF)
Back in the ISL, Odisha FC have also changed their home venue. Their next ‘home’ matches against Bengaluru FC (May 4) and Punjab FC (May 16) will be played in Goa.Varanasi-based Inter Kashi have played three ‘home’ games in Kolkata while their own stadium is being built. This number will eventually increase to four. Mohali-based Punjab FC play their home fixtures in New Delhi.Between these inequalities, the effects of poor or strong weather apply. A team that does not perform well in ISL will be relegated to IFL and a team that performs well in IFL will be promoted. Relegated teams will suffer loss of income, business opportunities, broadcast coverage among others. Meanwhile, the title-winning team will get more prize money, play continental football, attract bigger talent and so on.Until now Force majeure remains a hush-hush topic in the AIFF corridors.. The current AIFF constitution, which has been ratified by the Supreme Court, mandates promotion and relegation to India’s top division. It also keeps the ISL in compliance with the rules of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Mohammedan Sporting, bottom of the ISL standings, have played just two home games this season. (AIFF)
In 2019, the AIFF, the clubs, and then commercial partner Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) accepted the AFC’s proposal for relegation from the 2024–25 season. This promise will continue from this season.In January, all 14 ISL clubs have written to the sports ministry and called for an end to relegation for the season and three to five seasons thereafter. He said the 2025-26 season should be considered a “virtual force majeure”. Since then, there has been no progress on the matter. FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) rulings on similar cases in the past may not help ISL clubs escape the obligation to pay salaries. But the fact that it has not been the same season for all the teams cannot be ignored. Nevertheless, the fact that promotion and relegation in India’s top two divisions is a grave injustice has been termed a “crisis” by AIFF chief Kalyan Chaubey himself.
