India's Football Fraternity Faces Global Repercussions as City Football Group Pulls Out
In a move that has left fans reeling, the world's largest sports conglomerate, City Football Group (CFG), has abandoned Indian football after six years of investment. The sudden withdrawal of CFG from Mumbai City and other ISL clubs marks a significant setback for India's fledgling football league.
The reasons behind this drastic decision are rooted in the country's chronic uncertainty surrounding the future of the Indian Super League (ISL). The 2025-26 season was supposed to kick off in September, but it never materialized due to a lack of commercial clarity. With no new agreement or partner in place, the league remains in limbo.
"This is a global embarrassment," admitted John Abraham, Bollywood actor and owner of Northeast United FC, as he shared a video with his 3.2 million followers showcasing the desperation of players. "Shame on us... This is what we have come to."
The exodus of CFG, which held an impressive 65% stake in Mumbai City, has sent shockwaves through the football fraternity. Ravi Puskur, owner of FC Goa, described the exit as a "serious indictment" of the current administration's failures, highlighting the difficulty in attracting credible investment despite on-field successes.
"Mumbai may find new owners, but brand-wise they lose a lot," cautioned Shaji Prabhakaran, former AIFF general secretary. "You are losing global capacity, not just money. It is a brand loss, part of a network. Getting coaches, support staff and foreign players through CFG was much better."
The connections between Indian clubs and CFG's Asian members have now been severed, leaving fans without the prospect of seeing top-tier talent from Japan or Australia play in the league.
The withdrawal of CFG sends a chilling message to potential investors, suggesting that India's football landscape is not yet ready for prime-time. "Their withdrawing sends a message to others who are thinking about investing in Indian football and sends a notice that this is not the time," Prabhakaran warned. "Something was working, going fine, and everything stalled."
As the situation remains uncertain, fans are left to wonder what the future holds for Mumbai City and the ISL as a whole. One thing is clear – the global embarrassment of India's football fraternity will be a hard pill to swallow for those who once had faith in its potential.
In a move that has left fans reeling, the world's largest sports conglomerate, City Football Group (CFG), has abandoned Indian football after six years of investment. The sudden withdrawal of CFG from Mumbai City and other ISL clubs marks a significant setback for India's fledgling football league.
The reasons behind this drastic decision are rooted in the country's chronic uncertainty surrounding the future of the Indian Super League (ISL). The 2025-26 season was supposed to kick off in September, but it never materialized due to a lack of commercial clarity. With no new agreement or partner in place, the league remains in limbo.
"This is a global embarrassment," admitted John Abraham, Bollywood actor and owner of Northeast United FC, as he shared a video with his 3.2 million followers showcasing the desperation of players. "Shame on us... This is what we have come to."
The exodus of CFG, which held an impressive 65% stake in Mumbai City, has sent shockwaves through the football fraternity. Ravi Puskur, owner of FC Goa, described the exit as a "serious indictment" of the current administration's failures, highlighting the difficulty in attracting credible investment despite on-field successes.
"Mumbai may find new owners, but brand-wise they lose a lot," cautioned Shaji Prabhakaran, former AIFF general secretary. "You are losing global capacity, not just money. It is a brand loss, part of a network. Getting coaches, support staff and foreign players through CFG was much better."
The connections between Indian clubs and CFG's Asian members have now been severed, leaving fans without the prospect of seeing top-tier talent from Japan or Australia play in the league.
The withdrawal of CFG sends a chilling message to potential investors, suggesting that India's football landscape is not yet ready for prime-time. "Their withdrawing sends a message to others who are thinking about investing in Indian football and sends a notice that this is not the time," Prabhakaran warned. "Something was working, going fine, and everything stalled."
As the situation remains uncertain, fans are left to wonder what the future holds for Mumbai City and the ISL as a whole. One thing is clear – the global embarrassment of India's football fraternity will be a hard pill to swallow for those who once had faith in its potential.
, I mean, India has been trying so hard to make its football league more popular and now it seems like all that effort is just going down the drain 
. I get why CFG would want to pull out, but still it's a shame for Indian fans who were looking forward to seeing some top-notch teams in action 
. And yeah, this definitely sends a bad message to potential investors, making them think twice about investing in Indian football 
. It's gonna be tough for the ISL to bounce back from this one 
.
! I mean, CFG was already struggling with financial issues before they pulled out and it just shows that Indian football is still super unpredictable 
. Like, how can you attract top talent when the future of the league is so uncertain? And what about all the fans who were expecting an amazing season? 
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The exit of CFG from Indian football is a stark reminder of the country's struggle to establish a sustainable and professional sports infrastructure. The lack of commercial clarity surrounding the ISL has created an environment that is detrimental to investor confidence 
. It's disheartening to see a league that had shown promise on-field, struggle to attract credible investment 
. This exodus sends a clear message to potential investors, warning them away from a market that is still in its formative stages 
... so I was thinking about this whole Indian football thing and how it's supposed to be growing but now it's just kinda... done 
... like what even is the point of having a league if you can't get any decent investors? 
... I mean, I love Indian football as much as the next person but come on, it's time to get its act together 
... maybe the ISL should try partnering with some other major leagues or something? 
... idk, I'm no expert but it seems like they're stuck in a pretty bad loop right now 
...
. I mean, CFG should've known better than to invest in a league with such uncertainty. India's football scene has been a mess for years, and it's not like this is the first major issue they've faced 
. The players are just pawns in a game they can't control - the real question is, what's going to happen next? Will new investors come in and fix everything, or will India's football league continue to flounder? Either way, it's gonna be interesting 
...
...i mean, what's next? is india gonna be left in the dark ages of football forever? 
I'm really sorry to hear this news... it's like a punch to the gut for all Indian football fans 
. Six years is a significant investment and it's heartbreaking to see it go to waste due to uncertainty around the league's future. It's not just about the money, but also about the potential for top-tier talent to come in and elevate the sport in India 
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. The experience gained from CFG's tenure can be valuable in attracting new investors or partners who are willing to work with the current administration to create a more stable future for Indian football 
. Let's keep our fingers crossed that something positive comes out of this situation 
CFG's pullout is like that one plot twist from Stranger Things where everything just goes downhill 
. it's not just the money, it's the brand and reputation too...I mean, who wants to invest in a league that can't even get its own season together 
, maybe someone will take note and things'll change? 
but for now, it's like the whole football community is saying "ouch" 
And let's be real, 65% stake or not, Mumbai City was never going to be able to compete with the big boys in Asia. The fact that they couldn't attract top talent from other countries is a major red flag for the entire league. I'm no expert, but it seems like the ISL needs some serious reform and investment before it can even think about becoming a decent competitive league... 
We need to focus on building a strong foundation for Indian football instead of being disheartened by this setback! 
. CFG deserved better than to be treated like this 
I mean, come on... 6 years of investment down the drain? What was CFG thinking? Did they really think they could just waltz in and make Indian football great without putting in some serious effort? Newsflash: it takes time, money, and a solid plan to turn a league around. Just because they have a big brand doesn't mean they're automatically going to succeed here. And btw, who's holding the Indian Super League accountable for their lack of commercial clarity? The whole thing reeks of incompetence