Varanasi, India – In a ceremony filled with pride and jubilation, Inter Kashi was officially presented with a replica of the I-League 2024-25 trophy, marking the end of a dramatic and protracted saga. The event, held six months after the initial controversy, celebrated the club's hard-fought victory and their promotion to the Indian Super League (ISL).
The 2024-25 I-League season was one of the most tightly contested in recent memory. The battle for the top spot saw Inter Kashi and Churchill Brothers locked in a fierce competition, with the title race going down to the wire. Churchill Brothers initially finished the season at the top of the table with 40 points. However, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) did not immediately declare them champions due to an ongoing dispute regarding player eligibility. Inter Kashi finished with 39 points, but they appealed the AIFF's decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the highest international body for resolving sports-related disputes.
The controversy stemmed from Inter Kashi's registration of a foreign player, Mario Barco. After Barco was sidelined due to injury in December, the club brought in Matija Babovic as a replacement. The AIFF Appeals Committee later decided that Inter Kashi's registration of Barco was invalid and ordered that all matches played by the Spanish forward should be forfeited. This decision led to Churchill Brothers being declared the champions.
Inter Kashi, however, refused to accept the AIFF's ruling and took their case to CAS. On July 18, 2025, CAS partially upheld Inter Kashi's appeal, overturning the AIFF Appeal Committee's decision. CAS ruled that the AIFF must adjust the points table, awarding Inter Kashi the three points from a match against Namdhari FC, which they had initially forfeited. This adjustment meant that Inter Kashi finished the season with 42 points, surpassing Churchill Brothers' 40 points. Consequently, CAS declared Inter Kashi the winners of the I-League 2024-25.
The CAS ruling brought an end to weeks of uncertainty and controversy that had plagued Indian football. The AIFF initially hesitated to officially recognize Inter Kashi as champions, prompting the club to file a second appeal with CAS. The court then issued a directive, ordering the AIFF to "forthwith declare Inter Kashi FC as winner of the I-League 2024–25 season".
Finally, in October 2025, the AIFF officially declared Inter Kashi as champions and confirmed their promotion to the Indian Super League (ISL). The AIFF Deputy Secretary General, Satyanarayan M, conveyed the decision to Inter Kashi President Prithijit Das, stating that the promotion was subject to the club fulfilling the league's financial and technical mandates.
The presentation of the replica trophy six months later was a symbolic moment for Inter Kashi, their fans, and the city of Varanasi. It represented the culmination of a challenging season, a hard-fought legal battle, and the triumph of justice. As Inter Kashi prepares to compete in the ISL, their journey serves as an inspiring example of perseverance and determination in the face of adversity.
