Churchill Brothers Declared I-League Champions Amid Controversy

Churchill Brothers were crowned 2024–25 I-League champions with 40 points, edging past Inter Kashi 39. The decision followed a dispute over Inter Kashi awarded win due to an ineligible Namdhari player. Though the AIFF declared Churchill winners on April 19, Inter Kashi plans to approach CAS, keeping Indian football's credibility crisis alive.

As the 2024–25 I-League season concluded on March 31, Indian football was plunged into controversy instead of celebration. Churchill Brothers topped the table with 40 points, narrowly edging Inter Kashi, who finished with 39. However, Inter Kashi contested a January 13 match where Namdhari FC allegedly fielded an ineligible player with four yellow cards. Initially awarded a 3–0 win by the AIFF Disciplinary Committee, Inter Kashi briefly overtook Churchill.

But appeals and counter-appeals led to weeks of uncertainty. On April 19, the AIFF Appeals Committee declared Churchill Brothers as champions and confirmed their promotion to the Indian Super League. Yet, Inter Kashi is set to approach the Court of Arbitration for Sport, calling the verdict flawed. This dispute underscores deeper systemic failures within Indian football, where legacy I-League clubs are routinely sidelined in favour of the glossier ISL.

Despite promises under "Vision 2047," the AIFF’s blueprint to make India a footballing powerhouse, grassroots development lags far behind. With India’s national team struggling to compete in Asia and youth teams underperforming, the chaos surrounding the I-League title reflects a broader credibility crisis. Until merit and structure are prioritized over corporate spectacle, Indian football’s foundations will remain weak.