New Delhi: Adequate number of members didn’t turn up for a hurriedly-arranged executive committee meeting on Monday, forcing the All India Football Federation to call it off on Monday.
The 22 members of the panel were sent a notice for online attendance only 24 hours prior, at the request of three committee members “with regard to a matter of Churchill Brothers FC”.
Approval or inputs on governance charters of ISL and I-League, along with its rebranding to Indian Football League, were also kept in the agenda for discussion, which have also now got delayed.
After a wait of around 25 minutes for the members to show up, the meeting had to be cancelled for the day, with Churchill’s fate over their insistence to play in ISL remaining hazy five days before the tournament’s kick-off on February 14.
More than 50% of its members eligible to vote are requited to be present in the meeting in order to reach a quorum. Out of the 22 members, only 10 registered attendance on Monday.
“No quorum, so no meeting. Maybe AIFF would need to have another meeting,” a person aware of the development told News9 Sports.
“In such circumstances, it could be held the follow day, let’s see.”
No specific reason has emerged for the no-show of the members, though it is understood that it varies from one person to another. But in the larger context it is not being viewed as a healthy sign.
Vice president NA Harris and treasurer Kipa Ajay were absent without prior intimation while two other members excused themselves after informing that they would side with any decision taken by the majority.
“Unprecedented. Not even during Covid period has it happened. Just imagine. Most of the members have either lost interest or are disgusted,” observed a person who is well versed with these type of meetings.
Churchill determined for ISL
Runners-up in I-League last year, Churchill are adamant that they be allowed to play in the ISL even after losing a legal battle at Court of Arbitration for Sport that adjudged Inter Kashi as champions and granted promotion to ISL.
Churchill had written a letter to president Kalyan Chaubey last Wednesday, after meeting him at its Football House headquarters in New Delhi, insisting they be allowed to play in the top-tier competition since the matters is subjudice.
The Goan side have also sought support from ISL clubs, called executive committee members and even used political connections to strengthen their case.
Subsequently, three executive committee members requested the matter to be brought up for deliberations, forcing AIFF call the meeting, even after releasing fixtures on February 7.
But hours before the executive committee meeting, Kashi pointed out that Churchill were misleading AIFF by insisting matters are subjudice as the only international forum of appeal where CAS’ verdict appeal could be challenged has already dismissed Churchill’s case.
“We understand that Churchill Brothers continues to try to cast doubt on the finality of the CAS Award dated 18 July 2025 (case no. 2025/A/11486), which put a final stop to the never-ending campaign of Churchill Brothers to access the Indian Super League even though it ranked second after Inter Kashi,” the club’s lawyers wrote.
Kashi reminded that Churchill’s request for provisional stay and plea of annulment of the CAS judgement was dismissed by the Swiss Federal Supreme Court on July 29 and November 11, respectively.
“The CAS Award is thus fully enforceable and there is no legal reason to provisionally include Churchill Brothers in the Indian Super League.”
“Only I can say, we are in ISL,” a Churchill official said, without providing any details.
They haven’t attended meetings on I-League, which is earmarked for a February 21 start, and insist on playing the ISL or close down operations.