Inter Kashi have officially been declared the 2024–25 I-League champions after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in their favour, overturning the AIFF Appeal Committee’s earlier decision that had handed the title to Churchill Brothers.
With the verdict, Inter Kashi’s final tally climbs to 42 points, putting them above Churchill Brothers on goal difference and earning them direct promotion to the Indian Super League. It marks a stunning end to one of the most tightly contested and drama-filled I-League seasons in recent memory—and a historic achievement for a club playing its first top-tier campaign.
The yellow card that started the saga
The controversy stemmed from Inter Kashi’s 2-1 loss to Namdhari FC on January 13. Weeks later, Kashi alleged that Namdhari had fielded Brazilian midfielder Cledson Carvalho da Silva, who had accumulated three yellow cards and should have been suspended for that match.
The AIFF Disciplinary Committee initially ruled in Kashi’s favour and awarded them three points. But confusion erupted when Namdhari claimed the player wasn’t listed as suspended on the official AIFF portal. The ruling was paused on March 27, and the matter snowballed into a season-defining dispute.
When the AIFF Appeal Committee stepped in, it reversed the earlier decision and reinstated the original match result. That verdict meant Churchill Brothers—who had finished with 40 points—were named provisional champions, while Inter Kashi, with 39, dropped to second.
The CAS appeal timeline: Two wins from Lausanne
Unwilling to let the decision stand, Inter Kashi took the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland. They first appealed the AIFF Appeal Committee’s ruling—and won. CAS restored the three points from the Namdhari match, taking Kashi’s total to 42, pushing them ahead of Churchill Brothers.
However, even after the ruling, the AIFF had not officially named Inter Kashi as champions. So the club returned to CAS with a second appeal—seeking formal confirmation of their title win.
On July 18, CAS issued a clear directive: “The AIFF shall forthwith declare Inter Kashi FC as winner of the I-League 2024–25 season.”
With that, Churchill Brothers drop to second place, and Real Kashmir and Gokulam Kerala—both ending with 37 points—round off what was one of the most tightly fought seasons in recent I-League history.
By logic and precedent, Inter Kashi now earn promotion to the Indian Super League. But here’s the twist: the ISL itself faces an uncertain future. With the roadmap for league integration and promotion still murky, and discussions ongoing between the AIFF and stakeholders, Kashi’s hard-fought triumph feels slightly muted. They’ve won the war—but for now, the battlefield beyond remains foggy.
It’s a title that means everything. And yet, in the current climate, one might feel the victory lost just a bit of its bite.
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