AIFF seeks clubs’ views on Churchill’s inclusion in ISL

Panaji: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has sought the “considered views” of participating clubs on the inclusion of Churchill Brothers FC in the Indian Super League (ISL).The top-tier league kicked off on Feb 14 with 14 teams taking part, which included I-League champions Inter Kashi. The teams have played two rounds so far, and AIFF is now awaiting feedback on Churchill’s participation after two clubs – FC Goa and Sporting Club Delhi -- said they had no objection to the inclusion of the Goan side, “a long-standing club in Indian football.”The emails from Goa and Delhi, dated Feb 13, were attached by club president Churchill Alemao in his Feb 20 appeal to the AIFF, seeking another look at their proposal after the executive had turned it down on Feb 12.Interestingly, Alemao’s email mentions inclusion in the “2026-2027 ISL”, which is next season. However, senior AIFF officials said they have no confirmation if it’s a “typing error”, though the club has been fighting all along to be included in the current edition.“The emails (from Goa and Delhi) put on record that the clubs have no objection, in principle, to the participation of Churchill in the current ISL season, while acknowledging that the matter is currently sub-judice at the Swiss Federal Tribunal and that any determination must be contingent on the outcome of the said proceedings,” AIFF secretary general M Satyanarayan said in his email to all ISL clubs on Wednesday.

“The email from Sporting Club Delhi further puts forth that it does not oppose the proposal that the league maybe conducted with an expanded number of participating clubs, provided that all additional operational costs attributable to such expansion shall be borne exclusively by Churchill.”Satyanarayan said AIFF is seeking the views of other participating clubs “in keeping with the principles of good governance, transparency, and the integrity of the competition.”Representatives of Goa and Delhi were members of the ISL interim committee, with the five-member club officials’ team empowered to decide on behalf of the others, if they have a majority of three. Subsequently, officials of these two clubs -- Ravi Puskur and Dhruv Sood -- resigned from the interim committee and the panel was also dissolved.In their email to AIFF, supporting Churchill’s inclusion, Goa said they would “defer to the federation and the collective judgement of the other participating clubs to decide what they consider appropriate in the overall interest of the competition.”Delhi said they have no objection, in principle, to the participation of Churchill in ISL. “We believe that considerations of fairness would support allowing their participation, subject to the outcome of the legal process, and to maintaining the stability of the competition structure,” said Sood.Churchill finished at the top of the I-League standings after the final matchday last season and were even awarded the trophy. However, second-placed Inter Kashi, which had four points deducted by the AIFF Appeals Committee challenged the sanctions at the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), eventually getting the verdict in its favour to be crowned champions.