Churchill Brothers not added to ISL 2025-26; 'fault of the administration,' says Baichung Bhutia

New Delhi: Churchill Brothers, who had provisionally finished top of the I-League standings last season and were slated to be promoted to the Indian Super League (ISL), will not be part of the top division in the 2025-26 season, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) ruled on Thursday.

The decision was taken at the virtual Executive Committee meeting, just two days before the season begins. It was near-unanimously agreed that Churchill Brothers should not be part of the upcoming campaign, considering the preparations for the season were already underway.



The Executive Committee meeting was initially set to take place on February 9 but was postponed after a quorum could not be reached.

The decision also comes a day after majority of the ISL clubs had written to the AIFF and urged against including Churchill Brothers. They had argued, among multiple reasons, that the league's credibility would be questionable in that case.

The situation arose after Churchill were declared provisional winners of the I-League. However, the title was taken away from them after second-placed Inter Kashi were awarded four points following a verdict by the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS).

Inter Kashi were initially penalised by the AIFF Appeals Committee for fielding an ineligible player, a decision that was overturned after appeal to the sport's highest court.

Subsequently, Inter Kashi were declared the I-League champions and promoted to the ISL. They will get their campaign underway away to FC Goa on February 14.

'Unfair on both clubs': Bhutia

Former India captain and current Executive Committee member Bhaichung Bhutia questioned the current 'inexperienced' administration for this mess. He also stated that with the courts deciding champions, it is not fair to either clubs.

"Why have this meeting when the league is starting in five days time? That in itself shows the fault in the administration. And you're again having a meeting to decide whether they should be allowed or not! Secondly, why did the situation come here is created by the federation itself," said Bhutia, who is part of the 22-member Executive Committee.

"They (Churchill Brothers) were completely right in appealing. They were declared winners and given the trophy. All said and done, it is unfair on both Inter Kashi and Churchill. Both the clubs were hard done by the federation and had to spend time, money and energy in going to court."

"When the league champion is decided by the court, either you decide both clubs should not play or you say that until the decision is finalised, we will not allow both to play. When it comes to allowing one and not the other, it becomes very unfair," he concluded.


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