FIFPRO Asia/Oceania has today called on clubs competing in the Indian Super League (ISL) to respect players’ contractual entitlements, as concerns grow over unpaid wages and coercive contract practices ahead of the league’s restart.
Following a prolonged period of uncertainty, the ISL is set to commence in mid-February, five months later than originally scheduled. This delay has left many players without pay for a considerable period of time, placing significant financial strain on them and their families.
According to FIFPRO Asia/Oceania, numerous players have been forced to rely on personal savings, take short-term contracts in state leagues, or seek alternative employment simply to support themselves. Despite these extraordinary challenges, players have continued to demonstrate professionalism and commitment.
Alarmingly, FIFPRO Asia/Oceania has received reports that several ISL clubs are pressuring contracted players to accept salary reductions as a condition for the league’s restart. The organisation has warned that such actions undermine key protections set out in the FIFA and All India Football Federation Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP), which require clubs to honour financial commitments and prohibit unilateral changes to employment contracts.
While FIFPRO Asia/Oceania and the Football Players' Association of India (FPAI) respect agreements voluntarily entered into between players and clubs and support good-faith negotiations, they have underlined that any attempt to coerce players into amending their terms constitutes abusive conduct under FIFA and AIFF regulations.
The organisation stressed that the league’s restart must not come at the expense of players’ fundamental rights and confirmed that any player subjected to such pressure can rely on the full support of FPAI and FIFPRO. FIFPRO Asia/Oceania also reaffirmed its commitment to working with all stakeholders to restore stability, integrity and respect for players’ contracts within Indian football.
The situation in India reflects a concerning pattern World Players is monitoring globally: leagues and clubs exploiting moments of economic vulnerability to pressure players into accepting diminished contractual terms. When competitions are delayed, organizations often weaponize the resulting financial strain to coerce players—precisely when collective representation matters most. These systematic attempts underscore why strong player unions remain essential to protecting fundamental contractual rights.
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