Bengaluru FC Stars Sacrifice Pay for Shortened ISL Season

Bengaluru FC players have agreed to a pay reduction for the upcoming, truncated Indian Super League (ISL) season, which is set to commence on February 14, 2026. Club owner Parth Jindal acknowledged the players' 'sacrifice,' highlighting its necessity due to the challenging phase Indian football is currently navigating. Jindal stated that these were difficult decisions, made in the best interest of the club and the sport. He had previously urged players to make sacrifices to help manage the financial burden of participating in the delayed ISL, even hinting that the franchise might otherwise face closure.

This move by Bengaluru FC, which includes prominent players like Sunil Chhetri and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, mirrors similar actions taken by other ISL clubs. Last month, FC Goa players and staff also accepted pay cuts, a move praised as 'selfless' and demonstrating unity. All 14 ISL clubs have confirmed their participation in the shortened season, which will feature 91 matches, with each club playing 13 games. The club has also appointed Renedy Singh as its new senior team head coach for the season.