CAS awards I-League title to Inter Kashi, denying Churchill spot in ISL

Even as the next season of the Indian Super League (ISL) remains on hold, there has been a major update in the participants. Inter Kashi have displaced Churchill Brothers from next season's ISL following a verdict from the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which rejected the decision of the Appeal Committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to award the I-League title to the Goan club.

"The AIFF shall forthwith declare Inter Kashi FC as the winner of the I-League 2024-25 season," the Lausanne-based CAS said in its order. "The appeal filed on 4 June 2025 by Inter Kashi FC against the decision issued on 31 May 2025 by the Appeal Committee of the All-India Football Federation is partially upheld. The decision issued on 31 May 2025 by the Appeal Committee of the All India Football Federation is set aside," CAS ruled.

AIFF had declared Churchill champions and presented them with the trophy, but now the football body will have to take it back and crown Kashi.

Winners of the I-League have been promoted to the ISL since the 2022-23 season. Punjab FC and Mohammedan Sporting were the clubs that advanced to the ISL by winning the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons of I-League respectively.

But last season of I-League ended in a legal battle, with Churchill and Kashi staking a claim for the coveted ISL place. When the I-League season ended on April 6, Churchill finished on 40 points, followed by Kashi on 39. Though Churchill had a point more than Kashi, there was a dispute pending.

Kashi appealed against Namdhari SC for fielding an ineligible player during their match earlier in the season. They hoped to get a favourable verdict in that match, which would increase their points tally to 42, crowning them champions. But AIFF rejected the appeal so Kashi went to CAS, which has reversed the football body's decision.

Kashi had won an appeal against the AIFF decision last month, and now the latest ruling has ensured them promotion, taking the place initially awarded to Churchill.

Costly affair
Not only will the AIFF have to change its decision, it must pay 55 per cent of the cost of arbitration, amounting to 3,000 Swiss francs (Rs 3,22,275 approx) to Kashi, while Churchill, Namdhari FC and Real Kashmir, the other parties in the case, must shell out 15 per cent each (Swiss francs 1,000 or Rs 1,07,413 approx).

Meanwhile, the ISL season, which was scheduled to begin in September, will be delayed as the AIFF and its commercial partner Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) have not renewed the Master Rights Agreement that is set to expire in December.