Kerala Blasters CEO Abhik Chatterjee has revealed that the club seriously considered shutting down operations during the peak of the Indian Super League’s (ISL) financial crisis, underlining the fragile economic state of Indian football.
“At one point, Kerala Blasters was going to shut down. It was seriously under consideration,” Chatterjee admitted.
The crisis was triggered by uncertainty surrounding the Master Rights Agreement between AIFF and FSDL, which delayed the ISL season and caused a massive drop in broadcast and central revenue. As a result, sponsorship income reportedly fell to just 10–20% of normal levels, forcing clubs into major budget cuts.
“There has been almost a 300% financial drop. Nearly 80% of ISL clubs have undergone a reset,” Chatterjee said.
Kerala Blasters were among teams that scaled down operations and temporarily paused first-team activities, with player contracts and spending heavily reduced. Big-money transfers have virtually disappeared across the league.
Despite the pressure, the club chose survival over shutdown, driven by fan loyalty and long-term vision.
“You realise what this club means to the people. The goal now is to live to fight another day,” Chatterjee added.
The episode raises broader concerns over financial sustainability in Indian football, the league’s commercial stability, and the urgent need for a more resilient business model.
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