New Delhi: For the second time in the span of 30 days, the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the All India Football Federation’s appeal committee’s decision to rule in favour of Inter Kashi and make them champions of the I-League.
Just like the case over fielding of an ‘ineligible player’ in which they were given back three points on June 17, Kashi’s appeal over re-registration of their foreign player Mario Barco was upheld by CAS on Friday (July 18).
Kashi had dragged the matter to the Lausanne-based court after AIFF’s appeal committee rule against them on May 31, judging that it didn’t comply with I-League regulations, quashing the league committee’s earlier decision of letting him be a replacement for a fellow overseas player.
That judgement resulted in a reshuffling of the final standings with four points deducted from Kashi, two added to Churchill’s tally and three more were given to Namdhari.
CAS set aside that decision, partially upholding Kashi’s appeal after hearing from the AIFF, Kashi, Churchill, Namdhari and Real Kashmir.
“The appeal filed on 4 June 2025 by Inter Kashi FC against the decision issued on 31 May 2025 by the Appeal Committee of the All-India Football Federation is partially upheld.
“The decision issued on 31 May 2025 by the Appeal Committee of the All-India Football Federation is set aside. The AIFF shall forthwith declare Inter Kashi FC as winner of the I-league 2024-25 season,” sole arbitrator Frans de Weger ruled in the CAS order.
The I-League points table would be adjusted with Kashi finishing on top woth 42 points, two ahead of Churchill, with Kashmir third on 37 and Namdari fourth with 29.
CAS also directed that the AIFF will bear 55 percent of the costs of the arbitration, with the rest 45 percent equally divided among Chuchill, Namdhari and Kashmir (15 percent each) and it would be served to the parties separately.
The AIFF would also have to pay CHF 3,000 (around Rs 3.22 lakh) while Churchill, Namdhari and Kashmir have to shell out CHF 1,000 (around Rs 1.07 lakh)) to Kashi as legal contribution for costs and other expenses incurred during these arbitral proceedings.
“Truth will always emerge victorious,” Kashi wrote in a post on social media.