Players will need to make “sacrifices” for ISL clubs to survive: Bengaluru FC owner Parth Jindal

NEW DELHI: (Jan 7) Bengaluru FC owner Parth Jindal on Wednesday called on the players to “make sacrifices” in view of the “financial burden” the club will shoulder to participate in the delayed Indian Super League (ISL) next month, saying without their support, the club may have to “shut shop for good”.

All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) bid to rope in a new commercial partner did not find any takers after the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) with the ISL organisers, the Reliance-owned FSDL, ended on December 8 last year.

Though Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday announced that the delayed and truncated 2025-26 ISL season will begin on February 14 with all the 14 clubs participating in it, the franchises will struggle financially if the top-tier tournament does not get a commercial partner soon.