Shame on us: Bollywood actor John Abraham on Indian football

Indian football is currently in deep chaos, with the 2025-26 ISL season yet to kick off

Last updated: January 04, 2026 | 18:08

Jai Rai, Assistant Editor

1 MIN READ

Northeast United FC’s owner Bollywood actor, John Abraham carries one of his team players.

EPA

Dubai: Bollywood actor and Northeast United FC co-owner John Abraham has termed the ongoing turmoil in Indian football “shameful.”

Indian football is currently in a state of deep uncertainty, with the 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) season yet to kick off. In the latest development on Saturday, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed that the dates for the delayed season will be announced next week.

Reacting to the situation, Abraham shared a video on social media featuring a joint appeal by ISL players, including Sunil Chhetri and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, urging Fifa and FIFPro to intervene and help resolve the crisis. Captioning the post, Abraham wrote, “Shame on us … this is what we have come to.”

The video, which has gone viral since being uploaded by Gurpreet, shows Chhetri saying, “Players, staff, owners and the fans deserve clarity, protection and, more importantly, a future.”

Other players in the video added that the governing bodies of Indian football are no longer able to fulfil their responsibilities, warning that the sport is facing “permanent paralysis.” Calling it a last-ditch effort to save Indian football, they appealed to Fifa to step in, stressing that the crisis is humanitarian, sporting and economic in nature. “We just want to play football,” the players said. “Please help us do it.”

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Jai RaiAssistant Editor

Jai is a seasoned journalist with more than two decades of experience across India and the UAE, specialising in sports reporting. Throughout his distinguished career, he has had the privilege of covering some of the biggest names and events in sports, including cricket, tennis, Formula 1 and golf. A former first-division cricket league captain himself, he brings not only a deep understanding of the game but also a cricketer's discipline to his work. His unique blend of athletic insight and journalistic expertise gives him a wide-ranging perspective that enriches his storytelling, making his coverage both detailed and engaging. Driven by an unrelenting passion for sports, he continues to craft compelling narratives that resonate with readers. As the day winds down for most, he begins his work, ensuring that the most captivating stories make it to the print edition in time for readers to receive them bright and early the next morning.