SOCCER: City Football Group exits Mumbai City amid Indian league uncertainty

The City Football Group (CFG) has sold its stake in Mumbai City FC amid growing uncertainty over the future of the Indian Super League (ISL), the club announced on Friday.

CFG, which owns several top clubs including Manchester City, had acquired a 65% stake in Mumbai City in 2019. Under its ownership, the team went on to win two league titles.

However, the ISL is currently in limbo, with the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the national governing body, struggling to secure a new commercial partner after the expiration of its 10-year deal with the previous partner.

“The founding owners will assume full control of the organization moving forward,” Mumbai City said in a statement on their official website.

“CFG has made this decision following a comprehensive commercial review and in light of the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future of the Indian Super League.”

The ISL was put on hold in July after negotiations to renew the AIFF's contract with its commercial partners, Reliance-led Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), stalled. The talks were suspended following a Supreme Court directive preventing the AIFF from renewing the FSDL deal until a separate case on implementing a new constitution for the federation is resolved.

-Reporting by Karan Prashant Saxena in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters