CAS Declares Inter Kashi I-League 2024-25 Champion, Orders AIFF To Pay

Last Updated:July 18, 2025, 16:10 IST

Inter Kashi are I-League champions after CAS ruled in their favor over Mario Barco's registration. AIFF must declare them winners and cover 55% of arbitration costs.

Inter Kashi (X)

Inter Kashi are finally the I-League champions after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in their favour regarding a case about over the registration of Mario Barco.

CAS overturned the decision of the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) Appeal Committee, which had awarded the I-League title to Churchill Brothers of Goa. The AIFF had declared Churchill Brothers as the champions after its Appeal Committee ruled against Inter Kashi regarding the fielding of an ineligible player. Following this ruling, the Varanasi club had been relegated to second place due to points being deducted from their tally.

“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," CAS’s order read.

What Exactly Happened?

The controversy arose after Barco was registered twice by the club—a move questioned and deemed invalid by AIFF’s Competitions Committee.

Initially, Kashi registered Barco before the season began. However, following his injury in December, Inter Kashi signed Matija Babovic as his replacement. Two months later, Kashi re-registered Barco to replace Juan Perez del Pino, who had mutually terminated his contract with the club.

According to Clause 6.5.7 of the I-League regulations, a foreign player can be replaced by another foreign player up to three times in the competition, either due to injury or illness that rules a player out for the rest of the season, or after a mutual termination of contract.

While the rule allows three such changes, re-registering an injured player—who was earlier expected to be out for the season—sparked debate.

The CAS ruling ended the debate on Friday.

What About AIFF?

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has also imposed financial penalties, with AIFF ordered to cover 55% of the total arbitration costs. The remaining 45% of the expenses will be distributed among the three I-League clubs involved in the case: Churchill Brothers, Real Kashmir, and Namdhari FC.

“The costs of the arbitration, to be served to the Parties by the CAS Court Office separately, shall be borne for 55% by the All-India Football Federation, 15% by Churchill Brothers FC Goa, 15% by Namdhari FC and 15% by Real Kashmir FC The All-India Football Federation shall pay an amount of CHF 3,000 (three thousand Swiss francs) and Churchill Brothers FC Goa, Namdhari FC and Real Kashmir FC shall each pay an amount of CHF 1,000 (one thousand Swiss francs) to Inter Kashi FC as legal contribution towards its legal costs and other expenses incurred during these arbitral proceedings," the order added.

Ritayan Basu

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha...Read More

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha...

Read More

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