AIFF writes to all ISL clubs regarding Churchill Brothers’ participation in ongoing season despite end of two gameweeks

Inter Kashi were declared I League 2024-25 champions despite AIFF handing the trophy to Churchill Brothers initially.

The All India Football Federation has formally drafted a letter to all the ISL clubs asking them for their opinion regarding the potential participation of Churchill Brothers in the ongoing edition of the ISL 2025-26 season.

This development comes after Churchill Brothers expressed their interest and desire to compete in the top flight after initially being declared the I-League champions. However, as simple as it may sound, the matter is currently on trial before the Swiss Federal Tribunal (SFT).

Two clubs have already agreed to Churchill Brothers’ participation in ongoing ISL season

The letter also had emails from SC Delhi and FC Goa attached, where both clubs stated that they have no objection, but SC Delhi also claimed that all additional operational costs in accommodating an extra team must be borne exclusively by Churchill Brothers.

Now, a letter drafted on 25 February 2026 from AIFF seeks the view of all ISL clubs, ensuring that the federation chooses to consult all stakeholders and abstains from any unilateral action.

The letter said, The emails put on record that the aforementioned clubs have no objection, in principle, to theparticipation of Churchill Brothers FC Goa in the current ISL season, while acknowledging thatThe matter is currently sub-judice at the Swiss Federal Tribunal (“SFT”), and that anydetermination must be contingent on the outcome of the said proceedings.

How did this controversy begin?

A series of dramatic events unfolded before the CAS ruled in favour of Inter Kashi. The AIFF Disciplinary Committee and the AIFF Appeal Committee first penalised the Uttar Pradesh outfit after it was found that the registration of a foreign player named Marco Barco was not valid, stating that every match played by Barco must be forfeited.

This judgment had a massive impact on the I-League points table after AIFF forfeited their match against Namdhari to award all 3 points to the Punjab outfit, adjudging them as the winner.

However, after filing an appeal to CAS, it was found that Kashi’s claims were genuine, and the new CAS ruling asked AIFF to restructure the final points table. Inter Kashi finished at the top with 42 points, whereas Churchill Brothers ended the season with 40 points, finishing second.

The fiasco occurred after AIFF initially handed the I-League trophy to Churchill Brothers, but later declared Inter Kashi as the new champions of I-League 2024-25 as Varanasi gained promotion to ISL.

Will Churchill Brothers play in ISL 2025-26?

Everything depends upon the verdict of the Swiss Federal Tribunal in this matter. The Goan outfit’s push becomes symbolic as a decade-old club like Churchill Brothers seeking parity, and also sparks a wide debate on promotion and relegation in the top tier of Indian football.

It will be interesting to find out how things could shake up, fixtures and points table may be affected to accommodate Churchill Brothers in the ongoing edition of ISL 2025-26, especially at a time when players have taken pay cuts to get the ball rolling in the top flight of Indian football.

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