The 2024–25 I-League season concluded with one of the most dramatic finishes in recent memory. But just as fans anticipated the excitement of the Super Cup, Churchill Brothers FC Goa threw a wrench into the narrative by announcing their withdrawal from the tournament, citing “injustice” and “unfair seeding” by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Most notably, Churchill Brothers declared themselves the “rightful I-League champions”, even though the league standings are still under review due to an unresolved disciplinary dispute involving Inter Kashi and Namdhari FC.

What’s the Dispute?

In Match 45, Namdhari FC defeated Inter Kashi at their home by a scoreline of 2-0. After the match, Inter Kashi appealed that Namdhari FC deployed an ineligible (suspended) player in the match. The AIFF Disciplinary Committee ruled in Inter Kashi’s favor on the 24th of February, awarding three points for Inter Kashi FC. However, this decision was later stayed after Namdhari FC filed an appeal, and the case is still under deliberation.  If the decision goes in favour of Inter Kashi, they would be awarded all three points, which would push them above Churchill Brothers in the final standings.

As the decision on this case is pending, no team can be officially declared I-League champions until the verdict.

So Why Is Churchill Declaring Themselves Champions?

Churchill Brothers’ stance becomes even more confusing when viewed alongside recent developments. According to an interview given by former Indian captain Bhaichung Bhutia to Khel Now, AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey apparently congratulated Churchill Brothers as the eventual champions during an AIFF meeting held on the 7th of April, despite the disciplinary issue being unresolved. Such a statement, if true, undermines the procedural neutrality expected from the federation’s top leadership.

Adding to the contradictions, Valanka Alemao, the owner of Churchill Brothers, posted on Instagram declaring Churchill as the champions. But if Churchill were already confirmed champions, why are they simultaneously boycotting the Super Cup and protesting the AIFF’s handling of the situation?

These mixed signals suggest one of two things: either Churchill is trying to force a narrative into public perception before the AIFF can issue a decision, or they are reacting emotionally to a potential threat to their championship hopes.

The Real Irony: Churchill Benefited from the Same Rule Before

Churchill’s current outrage becomes even more ironic when considering that they have benefited from a similar situation in the past. In the 2022-23 I-League season, Churchill Brothers were awarded three points after Real Kashmir FC substituted a non-Asian foreigner for an Asian foreigner in a Match 22. This was found to be a breach of the league’s rules on foreign players by the AIFF Disciplinary Committee. Back then, Churchill didn’t question the process; they accepted the points, and the table was adjusted accordingly.

Now that Inter Kashi is using the same mechanism to raise a legitimate concern, Churchill is resisting the very process that once worked in their favor.

On Refereeing and Favouritism

The controversy further deepened when six I-League clubs—Real Kashmir FC, Delhi FC, Namdhari FC, Aizawl FC, Sreenidi Deccan FC, and Churchill Brothers themselves—jointly submitted a letter to the AIFF’s Disciplinary Committee. The letter lists specific refereeing decisions that allegedly favored Inter Kashi throughout the season. It also mentions potential unethical behavior by a senior Inter Kashi official.

While these are serious accusations, they remain allegations, not confirmed breaches. Refereeing inconsistencies have been a league-wide issue, not unique to Inter Kashi. Even Churchill benefited from a highly controversial equalizer in their penultimate match against Inter Kashi. That goal helped Churchill salvage a crucial point and stay in the title race. If the roles were reversed, would Churchill have admitted unfair gain?

While standing up for fairness is commendable, withdrawal from national competitions only weakens the club’s case and hurts the broader football ecosystem.

In this instance, Churchill’s protest seems more like a tactical maneuver to pressure the AIFF than a stand for justice. By projecting themselves as champions, they are trying to influence public opinion and corner the AIFF into avoiding a potentially controversial verdict.

The AIFF Must Step Up

The AIFF, for its part, has failed miserably to assert clarity. They failed to update the Competition Management System (CMS) regarding the suspension of the Namdhari FC player, which led to this fiasco. If Bhaichung Bhutia’s claim about the AIFF President pre-emptively congratulating Churchill is true, it reflects a serious breach of neutrality. The federation must urgently resolve the Inter Kashi–Namdhari dispute and communicate the rationale behind any decision.

Conclusion

Churchill Brothers may yet end up as the rightful champions—but they aren’t yet. The matter is under review, and the AIFF is the only body authorized to declare the final standings. Declaring themselves winners and walking out of the Super Cup undermines the league’s credibility and sets a dangerous precedent. 

If Churchill truly believes in fairness, they should let the process run its course.