Can Inter Kashi still win I-League 2024-25?

Churchill Brothers finished at the top of the table with 40 points while Inter Kashi have 39 points.

The thrilling 2024-25 I-League season reached its peak on Sunday, April 6th, with a triple header determining the final standings of the league. Of the six teams in action on this high-stakes final day, three contenders played the final day: Churchill Brothers, Inter Kashi, and Gokulam Kerala. Ultimately, it was the Churchill Brothers who clinched the top spot and were declared provisional champions

Gokulam Kerala, playing at their home stadium, suffered a setback as they were surprisingly defeated by Dempo SC by 3-4. Meanwhile, Inter Kashi managed to secure a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Rajasthan United, with their goals coming in injury time.

In the other crucial match, the Churchill Brothers battled a 1-1 draw against Real Kashmir. When the final whistles blew across all venues, these results confirmed that Churchill Brothers had the most points and were on the top of the table.

The full-time results for the I-League final day are here ! As things stand Churchill Brothers are provisionally the I-League 2024-25 champions as Inter Kashi await the fate of their appeal! #IndianFootball #ILeague #ILeagueTitleRace pic.twitter.com/otjQzrzy4c

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) April 6, 2025

How can Inter Kashi still win the I-League?

Churchill Brothers are currently leading the table with 40 points. Right below them in second place are Inter Kashi, just a single point behind with 39. However, the final standings are far from settled, as a decision about one match hangs in the balance, the outcome of which could give Inter Kashi three points.

The match in question is the one that happened on January 13th during the clash between Namdhari FC and Inter Kashi. Namdhari had emerged with a 2-0 victory in the fixture. The complaint lodged by Kashi spoke about the alleged fielding of an ineligible player by Namdhari, revolving around Cledson Carvalho da Silva, widely known as De. Inter Kashi stated that De should have been serving a suspension due to accumulating four yellow cards in previous league matches prior to this encounter.

Initially, the AIFF Disciplinary Committee gave the verdict in Inter Kashi’s favour. The rule to forfeit the match in Kashi’s favor and also penalized Namdhari FC with a deduction of three points. However, this decision took a dramatic turn on March 27th when the AIFF Appeals Committee overturned the Disciplinary Committee’s verdict. This reversal sparked strong protests from Inter Kashi, who have threatened legal action in response to the decision. As per the latest update, the verdict of this hearing will be given on April 28th.

If the upcoming verdict from this case on April 28th favours Inter Kashi, it will have a huge impact on the I-League standings. The awarding of three points from the disputed match would push them to the top of the league table, thereby crowning them as the Champions of I-League and promoting them to the Indian Super League.

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