New Delhi: Mindful that only 48 hours remain before kick-off of the delayed and truncated 2025-26 Indian Super League, the All India Football Federation rejected Churchill Brother‘s request for inclusion into what would now go ahead as a 14-team competition.
At least 17 of the 22-member panel attended the second executive committee meeting in the space of four days, which had to be called once no quorum was reached in the first meeting on February 9.
Churchill were firm on playing in the top-flight and had even threatened to close down if their request isn’t accepted and had pulled out all stops for support.
They insisted on remaining entitled to file an appeal before the Swiss Federal Tribunal to set aside the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s “motivated” judgement to announce Inter Kashi as I-league champions and grant them promotion.
“First and foremost, it must be underlined that to date the Court of Arbitration for Sport has not communicated the full motivated award passed in the procedure CAS 2025/A/11486 Inter Kashi FC v. All India Football Federation (AIFF), Churchill Brothers FC Goa, Namdhari FC, Real Kashmir FC.
“This means that Churchill Brothers FC is still entitled to file an appeal before the Swiss Federal Tribunal to set aside the motivated award, once notified,” Churchill had written to AIFF on Wednesday.
But after a letter of objection from 13 ISL clubs, where it was explained why addition of a new team at the 11th hour is “not acceptable”, along with another from Kashi pointing out how Churchill were misleading AIFF by maintaining that matters are subjudice even after Swiss Federal Supreme Court’s dismissal of requests for provisional stay and annulment were read out, the Goan side’s request received support from only one member.
The members also didn’t entertain SC Bengaluru’s request for being a part of the 2025-26 I-League despite being relegated, rejecting it even before it could be tabled formally.
SCB had questioned “differential treatment” when handling similar demands of them and Churchill and cited at past instances of teams being reinstated even after going down.
‘Need of the hour is for ISL to begin’
Three members had requested discussion on Churchill’s inclusion, who were made to understand why inclusion of Churchill wasn’t feasible so close to the tournament’s beginning.
“Those who had proposed where informed that since only one team would get promotion as per regulations, it would have to be the champions Kashi,” a person who attended the meeting told News9 Sports.
“They were also told that since only two days are left for the tournament’s commencement it wouldn’t to wise to tinker with the structure, as the clubs mentioned through a letter on Feb 9.
“Though Churchill’s immense contribution to Indian football was acknowledged, members also felt that including them could have jeopardised the tournament, also agreeing that it is imperative for the ISL to start now after months of deadlock and uncertainty.”
AIFF had earlier agreed with clubs on new ownership models for ISL and I-League, which were approved at the executive committee, including rebranding of the second division as Indian Football League.