By Chiranjit Ojha
BENGALURU (Reuters) -Inter Kashi have been named champions of India’s I-League after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in favour of the club in their dispute with the All India Football Federation.
In May, the AIFF named Churchill Brothers winners of the country’s second division, after the governing body’s appeals committee ruled against Inter Kashi for fielding an ‘ineligible player’ in Mario Barco.
According to reports in Indian media, Inter Kashi registered Barco twice, signing the Spaniard before the season and then replacing him when he suffered an injury, only to bring him back into their squad two months later.
The AIFF’s appeals committee said all matches played by Barco since his return from injury would be forfeited by Inter Kashi, leaving Churchill Brothers at the top of the standings.
Inter Kashi, which was established in 2023 in collaboration with Spanish giants Atletico Madrid and Andorran club Inter Escaldes, filed an appeal with CAS last month.
“I still don’t understand what is the mistake we have made,” Inter Kashi president Prithiijit Das told Reuters.
“A player got injured, the club spent money, looked after his rehabilitation, he became fit and then his right to play football (was) not being allowed… what is his fault?
“We are all grateful that truth has won.”
In its statement on Friday, sport’s highest court CAS said it had “ruled that the AIFF shall declare Inter Kashi FC as winner of the I-League 2024-25.”
Following the ruling, the AIFF congratulated Inter Kashi on becoming champions. Churchill Brothers did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Das said he was hopeful that as the I-League champions, Inter Kashi would meet the necessary criteria to play in the top division.
The top-tier Indian Super League (ISL), however, is on hold after contract renewal talks between the federation and their commercial partners, Reliance-led Football Sports Development Limited, stalled over a case to implement a new constitution for the AIFF ongoing at the Indian Supreme Court.
“It’s a very worrying situation, because there are so many people involved in the ISL. So many players, livelihoods,” Das said.
Inter Kashi are also in talks with the Uttar Pradesh state government to upgrade a stadium at their home city of Varanasi, 900 kilometres east of the capital New Delhi, and play there as soon as 2026, he added.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair and Chiranjit Ojha in BengaluruEditing by Christian Radnedge)
