I-League drama reaches new height: Despite CAS order, AIFF hands over trophy to Churchill Brothers

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) found itself in an embarrassing situation after handing over the I-League trophy and winners’ medals to Churchill Brothers FC Goa on Sunday despite an order from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) prohibiting them from doing so. The governing body for Indian football stated that they were not made aware of the CAS order due to a holiday in the AIFF Secretariat, and got to know about it only after the ceremony had already taken place in Goa on Sunday.

“The AIFF would like to clarify that, with regard to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) order, due to a holiday in the AIFF Secretariat, the federation was only informed of the order at a time when the ceremony had already concluded in Goa,” read a statement from the AIFF.

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“The AIFF remains committed to adhering to all regulatory and legal processes and will take appropriate action,” it added.

The Lausanne-based CAS had barred the AIFF from declaring a winner in the 2024-25 season, which had concluded on 6 April, or conducting a medal ceremony until the ongoing arbitration involving Inter Kashi is resolved.

“The All India Football Federation is ordered not to declare the winner of the I-League 2024/2025 or organise a medal ceremony for the I-League 2024-25 until the present arbitration has been concluded,” Elizabeth Steiner, the Deputy President of CAS’ Appeals Arbitration Division, said in a statement.

Why Inter Kashi have filed an appeal before CAS

Churchill Brothers had finished with 40 points from 22 games at the end of the season, one more than Inter Kashi, and were set to join the Indian Super League (ISL) – the top division of Indian football – by virtue of being the I-League champion.

Inter Kashi, however, had played a game against Namdhari FC in which their opponents collected a 2-0 win while reportedly fielding an ineligible player. Kashi appealed against Namdhari fielding Brazilian forward Cledson Carvalho da Silva despite picking up four yellow cards prior to the game, which should have resulted in his suspension.

Namdhari thus were docked the three points they had collected following their victory, which were awarded to Kashi. Things, however, started getting complicated for all parties involved after Namdhari appealed against the decision before the Delhi-based governing body, claiming Cledson was fielded as the “AIFF CMS portal did not show the player was banned for the game".

Thus the 3-0 victory that was awarded to Inter Kashi due to Namdhari FC’s ‘forfeiture’ as a result of fielding an ineligible player was put on hold until the AIFF arrived at a final decision.

Kashi have since welcomed CAS’ order putting a hold to Churchill Brothers’ celebrations. Should the final verdict come out in their favour, Kashi will finish with 42 points to their name instead of 39 and will lift the trophy and book their ISL ticket as a result.

“Inter Kashi eagerly awaits a truly free and fair hearing of the matter at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and maintains that the case involves a simple interpretation of rules and regulations based on some undisputed facts,” the club based in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi said in a statement.

The AIFF as well as Churchill Brothers and Namdhari FC have been granted time until Tuesday, 29 April to file a full reply to Inter Kashi’s application for provisional measures, according to CAS.