Calling it a “selfless” act, FC Goa said its players and support staff, including India captain Sandesh Jhingan, have agreed to take a pay cut for the truncated 2025–26 Indian Super League (ISL) season, which begins on February 14.
In a statement posted on X, the Goan club said it held “honest and difficult conversations” with the squad and staff amid the ongoing turmoil in Indian football and the uncertainty surrounding the league.
“In a moment of real uncertainty for Indian football, our club had honest and difficult conversations about the challenges we are facing. What followed was something that made us incredibly proud,” the club said. “Our First Team players and Technical Staff stepped forward, stood together, and chose to support the club by agreeing to reduce their remuneration during this period. This was not an easy decision. It was a selfless one.”
Club Update. ✍🏻🟠 pic.twitter.com/CKjo6zGFn6
— FC Goa (@FCGoaOfficial) January 15, 2026
The AIFF Super Cup champions said they were “deeply humbled” by the gesture and expressed gratitude for the unity and commitment shown by the group. “These moments remind us that this club is more than results on the pitch. It is about people, belief, and standing together when it matters most,” FC Goa said.
Apart from Jhingan, FC Goa’s squad also includes India internationals Udanta Singh and Boris Singh.
Earlier this month, Bengaluru FC owner Parth Jindal had urged players to “make sacrifices” due to the financial burden of participating in the delayed ISL, warning that the club could otherwise “shut shop for good.”
While he did not specify the nature of the sacrifices, it was widely understood to mean possible salary reductions. Bengaluru FC’s squad features former India captain Sunil Chhetri and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
The appeals came shortly after Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya confirmed that the delayed 2025–26 ISL season will kick off on February 14, with all 14 clubs participating.
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The season had been thrown into disarray after Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the AIFF’s former commercial partner, terminated the Master Rights Agreement on December 8 following disagreements over its renewal. A subsequent AIFF tender to appoint a new commercial partner failed to attract bidders.
Following government intervention and negotiations, all 14 clubs agreed to take part in a truncated season featuring 91 matches on a home-and-away basis, with each team playing 13 games. The fixtures are expected to be announced next week.
