AIFF Unveils Indian Football League Fixtures as Churchill Brothers Battle for Top-Tier Inclusion
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has officially released the fixtures for the upcoming 2025-26 season of the Indian Football League (IFL), the nation's second-tier football competition. In a significant development, the schedule has been published without the inclusion of Churchill Brothers FC, the Goan club currently embroiled in a fierce dispute over promotion to the top-tier Indian Super League (ISL).
Churchill Brothers' Title Snatched Away, ISL Dreams Deferred
The controversy stems from the conclusion of the previous I-League season. Churchill Brothers were initially crowned champions by the AIFF at the end of the league stage. However, in a dramatic turn of events, the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in favor of Inter Kashi FC following two successful appeals. The court declared Inter Kashi as the rightful champions, leading to their subsequent promotion to the ISL, which commenced its new season this past Saturday.
Churchill Brothers, a two-time I-League champion, have been vehemently contesting this decision. The club has consistently communicated to the federation its unwavering stance on competing in the top flight. Reports indicate that the club has even threatened to cease operations entirely if their demand for inclusion in the ISL is not met, highlighting the intensity of their campaign.
AIFF Proceeds with 10-Team IFL, Sets Deadline for Churchill
Despite the ongoing standoff, the AIFF has moved forward, announcing a streamlined IFL season with only ten participating teams. The federation had previously issued a notification to Churchill Brothers, setting a firm deadline of February 14 for the club to respond and submit the required entry fee. "Churchill Brothers have been notified and we are currently awaiting their response and the submission of the entry fee. The deadline for Churchill Bros is Feb 14. If no response/payment is received by Sunday, we will move forward and publish the finalised fixtures on Feb 15," the AIFF informed other I-League clubs. Churchill Brothers did not respond to this notification, leading to their omission from the published schedule.
The IFL season is set to kick off on February 27 with a double-header on the opening day:
- Namdhari FC will face Aizawl FC.
- Chanmari FC will take on Gokulam Kerala FC.
Additional first-round matches include:
- February 28: Diamond Harbour FC vs Sreenidi Deccan FC.
- March 1: Shillong Lajong FC vs Rajasthan United FC.
- March 1: Dempo SC vs RKFC.
With Churchill's absence, Dempo SC remains the sole representative from Goa in the IFL. The five-time champions will begin their campaign against RKFC on March 1.
Innovative Two-Stage League Format Announced
In a strategic move, the AIFF has introduced a novel two-stage format for the IFL 2025-26 season, based on proposals from the participating clubs.
Stage 1: All ten clubs will compete in a single-leg home-and-away round-robin format. This initial phase will determine the standings that carry significant weight into the next stage.
Stage 2: Teams will be split into two groups based on their Stage 1 performance. The top half will advance to a home-and-away championship round, while the bottom half will enter a centralized relegation round. Crucially, all points accumulated during Stage 1 will carry forward into Stage 2, ensuring that early-season performance remains relevant and maintains the league's competitive integrity throughout.
The ultimate prize is clear: the team that finishes at the summit after Stage 2 will be crowned the Indian Football League champions and earn automatic promotion to the Indian Super League for the 2026-27 season. This structure adds a layer of strategic depth and sustained competition, promising an enthralling season of football despite the ongoing saga surrounding Churchill Brothers' future.
