The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on July 18 declared Inter Kashi FC champions of the I-League 2024-25, overturning a decision by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Appeal Committee that had awarded the title to Churchill Brothers FC Goa.
The decision followed an appeal filed by Inter Kashi FC on June 23, challenging the AIFF’s ruling of May 31. The AIFF Appeal Committee had found the registration of Inter Kashi’s foreign player Marco Barco invalid and ordered the forfeiture of all matches he played, resulting in Churchill Brothers FC Goa topping the points table.
CAS heard the case on July 15 and ruled that the AIFF decision be set aside. It directed the AIFF to revise the I-League table, placing Inter Kashi FC on 42 points, Churchill Brothers FC Goa on 40, Real Kashmir FC on 37, and Namdhari FC on 29.
Inter Kashi FC had earlier been supported by a CAS decision on June 17, which upheld the AIFF Disciplinary Committee’s forfeiture ruling against Namdhari FC for fielding an ineligible player on January 13.
The AIFF has since confirmed Inter Kashi FC as I-League champions.
