Churchill Brothers FC Face Major Setback as AIFF Executive Committee Rejects ISL Admission
In a significant development that has sent shockwaves through Indian football, Churchill Brothers FC have been left in a state of profound uncertainty after the All India Football Federation executive committee decided against admitting the historic Goan club into the upcoming Indian Super League season. The decision comes just days before the ISL is scheduled to kick off this Saturday, leaving Churchill Brothers' future hanging in the balance.
No Provision for Second I-League Promotion, Says AIFF Official
A senior member who attended the crucial AIFF meeting on Thursday revealed to media sources that there is simply no provision within the current framework for a second team from the I-League to be promoted to the top-tier competition. "There is no ambiguity with the Court of Arbitration for Sport order," the official stated emphatically. "It's absolutely clear that the I-League champions, which in this case is Inter Kashi, have to be promoted to the ISL according to the established regulations."
Churchill Brothers' Last-Ditch Effort Falls Short
Churchill Brothers owner Churchill Alemao and CEO Valanka Alemao, who also serves as an executive committee member, had made a final appeal to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey during a meeting in the national capital last week. They passionately argued that their club deserved to compete in the prestigious ISL after initially being crowned I-League champions at the conclusion of the league campaign. However, that championship decision was subsequently overturned by the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport, which ruled definitively in favor of Inter Kashi.
The club expressed that the CAS ruling came as "shock and surprise to the entire football fraternity" across India. Notably, Churchill Brothers have indicated that the final written order from the arbitration court has yet to be made available to them, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
Second AIFF Meeting Convenes After Initial Adjournment
Following a formal request from three executive committee members, the AIFF convened a second emergency meeting on Thursday after the initial gathering had to be adjourned due to insufficient quorum. During these deliberations, some officials acknowledged Churchill Brothers' substantial contributions to Indian football over nearly four decades, including multiple major successes and championships.
"You cannot simply discount Churchill's immense contribution to Indian football," one official remarked during the discussions. "The club has been an integral part of the football landscape for close to forty years with numerous achievements. However, adding a team with just two days remaining before the league officially kicks off would make all of us a laughing stock in the sporting community."
Overwhelming Opposition to Churchill Brothers' Inclusion
According to reliable sources familiar with the proceedings, Churchill Brothers' proposal for ISL inclusion officially found favor with only one out of the seventeen members who attended the critical executive committee meeting. This overwhelming opposition was further reinforced by communications from Inter Kashi's legal team, which circulated an email to all committee members asserting that "the CAS award is fully enforceable and there is no legal reason to provisionally include Churchill in ISL."
Committee members were also formally apprised of the collective stance taken by existing ISL clubs, who had previously communicated their strong opposition to any mid-season addition of a new team. In a joint letter sent to all executive committee members, all ISL clubs except Mohammedan Sporting had written: "The ISL season is already being organized under a defined competitive framework and regulatory structure. Any mid-cycle or ad-hoc inclusion of a club side of an established sporting pathway undermines competitive integrity and sets a precedent contrary to merit-based participation, thereby compromising the credibility of the entire competition."
Existential Threat for Historic Goan Club
The AIFF's definitive decision represents a monumental setback for Churchill Brothers FC, who had been absolutely firm in their determination to compete in India's top-flight football competition. The club's leadership had previously indicated they might be forced to shut down operations entirely if their request for ISL inclusion was not accepted by the federation.
In a related development, the former champions have notably not attended any recent meetings involving I-League clubs. Last week, when the AIFF convened a gathering of I-League clubs, the federation put forward the question of Churchill Brothers' potential participation should they wish to make a late entry. However, the clubs collectively responded that such a decision was best left to the federation itself rather than being determined by peer clubs.
