Inter Kashi becomes I-League champion—CAS rejects AIFF Appeals Committee ruling
Inter Kashi was handed a reprieve by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Friday as it ruled in the club’s favour in a dispute over Mario Barco’s registration, ultimately declaring it the I-League champion for the 2024-25 season.
The controversy arose after Kashi registered the Spanish player twice—a move that was challenged and deemed invalid by the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) Competitions Committee.
Barco was initially registered before the season but suffered an injury in December, leading to his replacement by Matija Babovic. However, two months later, Kashi re-registered Barco as a replacement for Juan Pérez del Pino, who had mutually terminated his contract with the club.
According to I-League Regulation 6.5.7, a foreign player can be replaced by another foreign player up to three times in cases of injury, illness, or mutual contract termination. While clubs are permitted three registrations, re-registering a player after an injury—which, under the rules, should have ruled him out for the season—was considered invalid by the Competitions Committee.
The League Committee initially overturned this decision, but the Appeals Committee reinstated it, deducting four points from Kashi.
However, the CAS ultimately sided with the I-League club, overturning the penalty.
This is Kashi’s second successful appeal at the CAS this season, after it previously won a case against Namdhari FC for fielding the suspended Cledson Da Silva, a decision that awarded Kashi three points.
With Friday’s decision, Kashi gained an additional three points, taking its total to 42—enough to clinch the title ahead of provisional leader Churchill Brothers, which dropped to second with 40 points.
“The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) serves as the highest judicial authority for resolving disputes in the field of sports. The All India Football Federation respects and upholds the decisions delivered by the CAS,” Kalyan Chaubey, the AIFF President, told Sportstar.
“In light of the recent ruling, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Inter Kashi on being officially declared the I-League Champion.”
Will Kashi play in the ISL next season?
There is no clarity on whether the club will play in the Indian Super League (ISL) this season, with the ISL officially put on hold with no confirmation on the future of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA).
The Supreme Court, on April 26, had advised the AIFF to stall negotiations with Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) until it rules on the Federation’s constitution.
A decision on the same was expected on July 18, but is now likely to be postponed.
The last time there was a discussion between the AIFF and FSDL, there was a draft proposed by the latter, wherein it stated that “ISL shall be limited to the current number of teams for at least five years,” adding “No Expansion through Promotion from Lower Tiers, unless explicitly voted for by all stakeholders.”
Rules of promotion/relegation in the draft
- At least a 10-year moratorium on Promotion/Relegation from ISL to lower tiers, and not until complete alignment of lower tiers as per the new roadmap, pre-agreed between parties.
- No club to get promoted to ISL unless it (i) meets strict financial and licensing criteria and (ii) has been in existence for at least five years under the same ownership that meets fitness test.
The AIFF had replied to the draft with a revised version of the existing MRA, which runs until December 8, 2025, with a five per cent increase in its Rs. 50 crore revenue. It was, however, rejected by FSDL.
Promotion of I-League winners to the ISL has happened in the last two seasons, with Punjab FC and Mohammedan Sporting being the two sides promoted.
