Inter Kashi have been declared the champions of the 2024-25 I-League season after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in their favour in a contentious player registration dispute, overturning a decision by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Appeals Committee.
The ruling, delivered on Friday, awarded crucial points back to the Uttar Pradesh-based club, allowing them to leapfrog Churchill Brothers to the top of the final standings.
The controversy centered on the registration of Spanish player Mario Barco. Kashi had initially registered Barco before the season, but he was replaced by Matija Babovic in December following an injury. Two months later, the club re-registered Barco as a replacement for another foreign player, Juan Pérez del Pino, who had left the club.
The AIFF’s Competitions Committee deemed the re-registration invalid, arguing that under league regulations, a player replaced due to injury should be ruled out for the remainder of the season. This decision was initially overturned by the I-League Committee but was later reinstated by the AIFF’s Appeals Committee, which deducted four points from Inter Kashi’s total.
Inter Kashi took their case to the CAS, which ultimately sided with the club and overturned the penalty. This was the club’s second successful appeal at the CAS this season, having previously been awarded three points in a case against Namdhari FC for fielding an ineligible player.
The final CAS decision restored the points to Inter Kashi, taking their final tally to 42. This was enough to clinch the title, placing them two points clear of Churchill Brothers, who finished as runners-up with 40 points.
“The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) serves as the highest judicial authority for resolving disputes in the field of sports. The All India Football Federation respects and upholds the decisions delivered by the CAS,” AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey told Sportstar. “In light of the recent ruling, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Inter Kashi on being officially declared the I-League Champion.”
Despite winning the I-League, which traditionally offers a path to promotion, there is currently no clarity on whether Inter Kashi will play in the Indian Super League (ISL) next season. The ISL itself is facing uncertainty, with its start reportedly on hold pending a resolution on the future of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between its organisers and the AIFF.
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