SC-appointed Justice Rao recommends striking balance between AIFF’s control and bidders’ interests

Justice (Retd.) L Nageswara Rao has recommended striking a balance between “preserving” the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) authority and keeping in mind prospective bidders’ commercial interests, in his report to the Supreme Court after an unsuccessful tender process to monetise the ISL.

The apex court-appointed committee, led by Justice Rao, has submitted a report to the SC after its invitation for bids on the tender it floated for the ISL’s commercial rights found no takers, which left the sport’s national federation in a fix.

“The recommendations that follow seek to strike a balanced approach by preserving the AIFF’s regulatory role while making the commercial framework more viable, and attractive to prospective bidders, thereby facilitating renewed interest and enabling the t