Final Standings Unresolved Amid Eligibility Dispute; Promotion to Indian Super League Hangs in Balance
The 2023-24 I-League season concluded on April 6 in dramatic fashion, with no official champion declared due to a pending appeal that could alter the final standings. Churchill Brothers finished atop the table with 40 points, narrowly ahead of Inter Kashi (39 points), while Real Kashmir and Gokulam Kerala trailed with 37 points each. However, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) withheld confirmation of the title winner, leaving the league in suspense.
The uncertainty stems from an ongoing appeal filed by Inter Kashi against Namdhari SC for allegedly fielding an ineligible player in an earlier match. If the AIFF Appeal Committee rules in Inter’s favor on April 28, they could be awarded three additional points, pushing their total to 42 and crowning them champions. Churchill Brothers, meanwhile, missed a chance to seal the title outright after a 1-1 draw against Real Kashmir on the final matchday, while Inter Kashi kept their hopes alive with a commanding 3-1 victory over Rajasthan FC.
As the football fraternity awaits the verdict, both clubs have engaged in a war of words on social media. Inter Kashi posted a cryptic message: “Some chase relevance, while we chase greatness.” Churchill Brothers fired back with a sharper retort: “Championships are won on the pitch, not in court.” The Goan club further emphasized their stance, stating, “Football is for the people, the sport of the poor, not the playground of the rich.”
The stakes are high, as the I-League winner earns promotion to the prestigious Indian Super League (ISL). Punjab FC and Mohammedan SC secured ISL spots in the last two seasons under the AIFF’s revised roadmap. Now, Churchill Brothers and Inter Kashi remain locked in a tense standoff, with the final decision resting in the hands of the governing body.
Fans and players alike must wait until April 28 for clarity, making this one of the most contentious I-League conclusions in recent memory. Whether the title is decided by on-field results or an off-field ruling, the controversy has added an unexpected twist to India’s second-tier football competition.
I-League Title in Limbo as Churchill Brothers and Inter Kashi Await AIFF Verdict on Controversial Appeal
