ISL relegation in doubt within a year of its introduction after Diamond Harbour exit

According to a report by Times of India, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is considering putting relegation on hold for one season. The situation is significant because the ISL only introduced promotion and relegation last season after operating for years as a largely.

The Diamond Harbour situation has now created an unusual question before the new campaign. With one promoted side no longer participating, clubs want to know whether relegation can be applied in a 13-team competition.

What Happened

The AIFF constitution states that India's senior-most top division must implement promotion and relegation while meeting the AFC's requirements for eligibility for a direct slot in the Asian Champions League. The relegation uncertainty also comes as the ISL undergoes a major change.

• Diamond Harbour earned promotion after winning the Indian Football League last season but could not pay the full ₹1.1 crore participation fee, with ₹55 lakh already adjusted against their prize money.

• The league began in 2014 as a three-month tournament and became India's top division in the 2019-20 season.

• While teams from the lower division were eventually promoted, ISL clubs did not face relegation until the 2025-2026 season, when Mohammedan Sporting finished at the bottom.

Key Details

That arrangement has now ended, with the clubs set to collectively operate the competition through a special purpose vehicle.

• The league was previously run by Reliance-owned Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), which held the commercial rights from the AIFF.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by India Today as more details emerge