Churchill Brothers declared I-League champions, Inter Kashi vow to take CAS route
Churchill Brothers have been on Saturday belatedly declared I-League champions, incomes promotion to the Indian Tremendous League, after the AIFF Appeals Committee dominated towards second-placed Inter Kashi, who’ve now vowed to problem the choice on the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport.
“As per an order acquired from the AIFF Appeals Committee on Saturday, April 19, 2025, on the attraction by Namdhari Soccer Membership concerning Match No. 45 of I-League 2024-25, Churchill Brothers FC Goa, who’ve the very best variety of factors within the league, are actually the champions,” the All India Soccer Federation (AIFF) mentioned in a press release.
I-League title row defined: Inter Kashi, Churchill Brothers await AIFF verdict
Churchill Brothers had completed provisionally on prime of the desk with 40 factors after the ultimate spherical on April 6. Their title and ISL promotion have been nevertheless topic to the end result of Inter Kashi’s disputed factors from their January 13 match towards Namdhari SC, which the latter had received 2–0.
The AIFF Disciplinary Committee had awarded a 3-0 forfeit win and three factors to Inter Kashi after ruling that Namdhari fielded an ‘ineligible participant’. That call would have taken Inter Kashi to 42 factors, sufficient to clinch the title. Nonetheless, the Appeals Committee later put the order “inoperative and in abeyance” pending a last listening to.
After a delayed course of, together with a postponed April 12 listening to because of Namdhari’s counsel citing “illness”, the Appeals Committee lastly dominated on Friday, setting apart the Disciplinary Committee’s order and ruling in favour of Namdhari.
In its verdict, the committee famous: “…Churchill Brothers FC Goa, Inter Kashi, and Namdhari FC has obtained 40 factors, 39 factors, and 32 factors respectively. Accordingly, Churchill Brothers FC Goa, Inter Kashi, and Namdhari FC stands at No. 1, No. 2, and No. 6 respectively on the Factors desk: I-League 24–25.”
It additionally directed the AIFF to conduct the medal distribution “forthwith” consistent with the ultimate standings.
The committee was headed by Justice Rajesh Tandon, Supreme Courtroom senior advocate and former Uttarakhand Excessive Courtroom choose. Reacting to the decision, Inter Kashi launched a press release calling the method “protracted” and signalling their intent to escalate the matter to CAS.
“Inter Kashi welcomes the order of the AIFF Appeals Committee following a protracted course of which ought to have been wrapped up earlier than April 6,” learn a membership assertion.
“The conclusion of the listening to, and with it, the exhaustion of all inner dispute decision processes, permits Inter Kashi to method the CAS for a very free and honest listening to of the matter.”
“From the very starting, Inter Kashi have been clear that the case includes a easy interpretation of guidelines and laws based mostly on some undisputed information.
“Inter Kashi will preserve no stone unturned to safe justice, and any celebration within the interim could in the end show to be untimely in nature,” the membership assertion added.
