In April-Three weeks after the final round of matches were played-The All India football federation (Aiff) Handed over the I-League Trophy to Churchill Brots. Three months on, the federation will have to organize another ceremony – and this time hand over the trophy to inter kashi.
The Switzerland-based court of arbitration for sport (cas) Rejecting the Aiff appeal Committee’s Decision to Award the title to Churchill Brothers of Goa and Declared that Kashi, Instead, Should be Declared the Sucalyinable. Champions. The decision, which camera on Friday, will end a month-long saga that overshadowed a nail-sitting season.
The international sports court’s verdict will come as further embarrassment for an under-fire ayf as it had earllier announced churchill brothers as the I-league champions. Their Decision came after it appears Committee Ruled Against Inter Kashi in a Matter Related to the Fielding of an ‘Ineligible Player’. The Varanasi Club Had Ended In Second Spot After Points Were Deducted from Their Tally.
Truth Will Always Emerge Victorious! 💪🏼🧡#Indianfootball #Ileague #Harharkashi #Kashi pic.twitter.com/gplxtmju56
– Inter Kashi (@interkashi) July 18, 2025
Howver, inter kashi approached the cas, which asked the ayfff to reverse its decision. “The Aiff Shall Fortwith Declare Inter Kashi Fc As Winner of the I-League 2024-25 Season,” “The Appeal Filed on 4 June 2025 by Inter Kashi FC Against the Decision Issued on 31 May 2025 by the appel committney of the All-India Football Fedation is partially upheld. Committee of the All India Football Federation is set aside. “
The back story
On January 13, Namdhari Beat Inter Kashi 2-0 in the I-League. After the match was over, inter kashi disputed the result, alleghari had fielded an ineligible player, Cledson Carvalho da silva – Also Known as dé. They are contended that dé should have been suspended under the ayife rules, claiming he had accumulated four yellow cards through the season. The fact that one of his yellow cards LED to a sending-off presented a confusing scenario for the parties involved.
It put more than one month for the ayff’s disciplinary committney, headed by a former uttarakhand high court judge, to announcing its verdict. On February 24, The Committee Upheld Inter Kashi’s Appeal and Handed They A 3-0 Win. At that point, it placed inter kashi Above Churchill brothers in the title race.
Namdhari immediately appealed the decision. The Punjab-Based Club Claimed That The Aiff’s Portal ‘Did Not Show’ that player was suspended for the match and hence, they fielded him.
Another Month Later, on March 27, The Aiff Affals Committee, Headed By A Formr Allhabad High Court Judge, Put The Earler Decision in Abeyance. It meant that churchill regained their position at the top of the table. The Appeals Committee Said It would continue hearing the case on april 28, long after the league was done and dusted.
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On April 6, the final day of the I-Legue, Churchill did just enjoyst real kashmir to finish top of the table with 40 points whereas inter kashi defeated Rajasthan United to end the season witth 39.
They hope that if if the ayife appeals committee the verdict in their favor, like the disclinary panel, they would get the points and leapfrogill to becom champions.
Amidst Confusion and Outcry over the lack of clarity regarding the champions, the appellate brought forward the hearing to april 12. Crowned the champions on april 20 – Two weeks after the league was over.
Inter Kashi Approached Cas Even As the Aiff Handed Over the trophy to Churchill. Now, with the cas ruling in their favor, the ayfy will have to take the trophy back from Churchill and hand it over to inter kashi.