Indian football in 2025 finds itself in a strange, almost tragic paradox. Instead of making headlines for league triumphs, tactical evolution, grassroots success or international breakthroughs, the sport is repeatedly dragged into courtrooms, administrative battles and legal disputes. The most embarrassing irony of the year has been a statistic circulating widely: the Supreme Court held more hearings related to Indian football—sixteen—than the national team played matches, which amounted to just twelve. For a country of 1.4 billion people, passionate fandom and a growing young population eager for sporting avenues beyond cricket, this reality paints a deeply unsettling picture.
The problem is not simply poor performance on the field; it is the rot off it. Indian football, in 2025, stands as a cautionary tale of how governance failures, political interference, organisational conflicts and administrative mismanagement can push an entire sport backwards, even as the world moves forward at lightning speed.
The Year That Should Have Been Different
Indian football entered 2025 with optimism. The national team had moments of promise in previous years, with a few respectable performances in Asian tournaments. Youth leagues were beginning to expand, and interest from private investors was growing. The popularity of the Indian Super League (ISL) was stabilising, and the I-League, despite limited resources, continued serving as a vital platform for grassroots football.
But the optimism was short-lived. Instead of discussing player development or tactical reform, the footballing community spent much of the year dissecting legal documents, court orders and administrative decisions. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) once again found itself under scrutiny—this time deeper, more prolonged and more damaging than before.
A Calendar Consumed by Court Cases
Sixteen Supreme Court hearings in a single year for one sport is not just unprecedented—it’s outrageous. These hearings covered a range of issues:
1. Governance disputes within AIFF
Internal disagreements, contested elections, and allegations of undue influence from external bodies created a hostile environment. Instead of focusing on long-term planning, the federation was busy preparing affidavits.
2. Implementation of the Supreme Court–mandated reforms
After earlier interventions, the Court had issued guidelines for more transparent governance. But the execution remained slow, uneven and often resisted by certain groups. This led to repeated hearings and show-cause notices.
3. Conflicts between state associations and AIFF
Multiple state federations complained of unfair treatment, uneven resource distribution and unilateral decision-making. These disputes again reached the judiciary.
4. Issues related to league structures and club licensing
The question of promotion and relegation, long-term sustainability of clubs, and qualification pathways led to separate legal challenges.
While the legal tangle absorbed time and energy, the actual football calendar suffered. Training camps were delayed, tours were cancelled, and planned friendly matches were shelved due to administrative uncertainty. By the time the national team assembled for international fixtures, preparation was minimal, morale was low and the players were caught in the crossfire of decisions they never had control over.
Meanwhile, Only Twelve Matches Played
Twelve matches in a year for a national team aspiring to compete at the Asian level is shockingly low. Most footballing nations—especially those looking to grow—play anywhere between 20 to 40 international games annually, including friendlies, qualifiers, training tours and invitational tournaments. The lack of match time has had predictable consequences:
• Declining player sharpness
Players who do not get regular international exposure stagnate quickly. Fitness, tactical awareness and adaptability suffer.
• Lower global ranking
Fewer matches mean fewer opportunities to gather ranking points. India’s ranking remained static or dipped depending on the month, affecting seeding for future tournaments.
• Reduced visibility
International fixtures generate excitement, attract sponsors and keep fans engaged. With so few matches, fan enthusiasm steadily declined.
• Lost opportunities for younger players
Emerging talents who should be getting exposure against varied opponents found themselves stuck in training camps with no real competitive environment.
The national team’s year felt disconnected, hollow and directionless—not due to lack of potential but because of sheer absence of structured planning.
A System Stuck in Repetition
The problems of 2025 echo earlier crises. Indian football has repeatedly suffered from:
- Leadership tussles within AIFF
- Interference from non-football bodies
- Poor long-term planning and inconsistent reform
- Short-term decision-making driven by personal interests
- Weak grassroots development compared to global standards
Each time, there is outrage from fans, frustration from players and promises of change from administrators. But the cycle repeats.
This year once again exposed how fragile and poorly managed the system remains. When the Supreme Court is involved more often than the national coach, the sport is fundamentally broken.
On-Field Humiliation: A Natural Consequence
While the national team played just twelve matches, the performances in those games reflected the disorder off the field. Lack of preparation led to:
- Heavy defeats against technically superior opponents
- Struggles even against lower-ranked Asian nations
- Predictable tactics and limited creativity
- Visible lack of fitness and cohesion
Players can be blamed only to an extent. A system drowning in legal disputes cannot expect high-performance output on the pitch. Football requires structure—an organised calendar, consistent support staff, well-planned camps and a clear long-term roadmap. None of that existed in 2025.
A Fanbase Running Out of Patience
India has one of the largest and most passionate football fanbases in Asia. From Kolkata’s electric derby crowds to Kerala’s overflowing stadiums, from Bengaluru’s loyal supporters to Goa’s football culture, the country has proven time and again that the love for the sport is real.
But love cannot survive on disappointment forever. Each unresolved crisis creates more disillusionment. Fans who once dreamed of India qualifying for the Asian Cup knockout stages now struggle to believe in any long-term vision.
The humiliation is not in losing matches—that is part of sport. The humiliation lies in how Indian football repeatedly fails off the field, not giving its players a fair chance to succeed.
What Indian Football Must Do Now
To move forward, Indian football needs structural overhauling, not band-aid solutions. Key priorities include:
1. Establish transparent, stable governance
Politics must be separated from football. Elections must be fair, guidelines must be followed, and administrators must act professionally.
2. Prioritise football activities over bureaucracy
More matches, more camps, more tours—this is essential for growth.
3. Strengthen grassroots and youth pathways
India needs a pipeline of players emerging through organised leagues, not sporadic academies.
4. Create a multi-year roadmap
A clear, measurable plan for 2025–2030 must be implemented with accountability.
5. Reduce dependence on courts
Legal intervention should be a last resort, not a recurring event.
