After uncertainty and weeks of the drama, Churchill Brothers, the provisional I-League leaders were made the champion for the 2024–25 season by the appeal committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Saturday.
However, confirming the victory of the Goan Club title, one of the most turbulent seasons in Indian domestic football is unlikely to be discontinued, which is the other contender for the second-level title as an inter-embroidery, which announces its intention for the Court of Arbitration (CAS) after the appeal committee’s decision.
The result of the championship was uncertain due to the controversy related to the Inter Kashi, which is the newly-made club, which finished second in the league, but the Namdhari FC (who lost 2–0 losing 2–0) was contesting the results of his match, alleging that the opposition fielded an unqualified player-Brazilian Midfield Cladson Sealwa.
The AIFF initially formed a disciplinary committee to investigate the case, and the initial decision gave Antar Kashi a 3–0 victory, which clarified him two points of Churchill Brothers and won the title. However, Namdhari ruled in favor of Namdhari against the verdict and an appeal panel on Saturday, confirming the churchill brothers as champions.
As expected, The aggressive party, expecting promotion to the high-profile Indian Super League (ISL), said it would go to a higher assistant authority.
“Inter Kashi welcomes the order of the AIFF Appeal Committee after a long process, which should have been wrapped before April 6. The conclusion of the hearing, and with it, tired all internal dispute solution procedures, enables the inter -embroidery to a true freedom for the court (CAS) in the game.”
“From the very beginning, the difference Kashi has become clear that the case involves a simple interpretation of rules and regulations based on some undisputed facts. Difference Kashi will have no stone unturned to secure justice, and any celebration in the interim can eventually prove prematurely in nature.”
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Blood
The seeds of stress between Churchill brothers and Antar Kashi were also sown earlier, especially in their struggle in Goa. The title hunt and relationships with both teams, already frosty between them, AIFF was forced to fly from Nepal to the referee so that the two clubs expressed disbelief in the local referee. The match, the bill as a possible title decisive, ended in a deadlock, but was filled with on-field changes, controversial decisions and post-match changes.
Churchill finally ended his campaign with 40 points after a 1–1 draw against Real Kashmir, which is enough to secure the title. But the ceremonies were put on ice almost immediately as a cloud of uncertainty at the final standing.
Since “winning the title” on 6 April, Churchill Brothers were left in a position. His resentment on the process of very delayed decision making was no secret. The club accused the Federation of pulling its feet and refusing them to “right place and trophy”. In protest, Churchill also pulled out of the upcoming Super Cup, in which he slammed the “unfair and opaque” seeding system of AIFF.
The decision of the appeal committee confirming Churchill Brothers as an I-League Champion also means that the club not only removed the title, but also secured a single-reputed promotion slot to ISL for the 2025-26 season.
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“Today, we are officially the champion of the I-League 2024-25. It’s not just a trophy-it is a revival of faith, dignity, for what we stood,” for what we stood, “the club posted on its Instagram handle after the ruling.
To go near CAS with the difference Cashi, it can be a long time before the final chapter in the race for the 2024–25 i-League title.
