The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) - which settles sports-related disputes through arbitration - stayed the decision of the AIFF Appeals Committee and ordered the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to refrain from declaring the Churchill Brothers as the I-League champions for the 2024-25 season until the ongoing arbitration is resolved. The order was issued by the Deputy President of CAS’ Appeals Arbitration Division.

The Appeals Committee had declared the Churchill Brothers the winner on April 19, nearly two weeks after the I-League season concluded. The committee was scheduled to meet on April 28, but with growing pressure on the AIFF to announce the champion, the panel advanced its meeting to April 12.

Churchill earned 40 points from 22 matches, while Inter Kashi got 39 points.

The championship outcome had been uncertain due to a dispute involving Inter Kashi, the newly-formed club that finished second in the league but was contesting the result of their match against Namdhari FC (which they lost 2-0), alleging that the opposition fielded an ineligible player - Brazilian midfielder Cledson C Silva.

Following the CAS order, Inter Kashi said, "We welcome the order on our request for provisional measures issued by the Deputy President of the Appeals Arbitration Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the case filed by Inter Kashi at the CAS with case number CAS 2025/A/11374.

"Through this order, CAS has stayed the order issued by the Appeals Committee of the All India Football Federation rendered on 18 April 2025 and has further ordered the All India Football Federation not to declare the winner of the I-League 2024/2025 or organise a medal ceremony for the I-League 2024-25 until the present arbitration has been concluded.

"Inter Kashi eagerly awaits a truly free and fair hearing of the matter at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and maintains that the case involves a simple interpretation of rules and regulations based on some undisputed facts."

The CAS directed AIFF, Churchill Brothers FC Goa, and Namdhari FC to file a response on or before April 29.

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