Churchill brothers have withdrawn from the super cup tournament starting april 20 in bhubaneswar, protesting against the all India football federation to not official I-League champions, calling it a “blatant disregard of rules and precedent” by the national governing body. In a letter written on saturday to aiff president kalyan chaubey, the goan club also cited “irregularities” in the conduct of the conductor cup draw draw as ahead Tournament.
“This letter is to inform you of our withdrawal from the super cup 2025. On 09.04.2025, we wrote to you inviting your attention to irregularities in the manner in the manner in the super cup 2025 Drav Had Occurred,” Churchill said in the letter.
“We have received no class as to the reason for the highly irregular and unconventional process adopted by the AIFF in Conducting the draw, Nor has said process been reacted.” Churchill said “the fact that differential teams have been subject to different methods of determining their seed for the competition is patently unfair.” “It is notworthy that this has obcurred in the backdrop of the aiff refusing to award churchill brothers fc the 2024-25 i-25 i-league trophy as required under Rule 14.4 of the ie-only regulations 2024 -25.
“This refusal and disregard for the competition rules have obccurred despite the fact that there is well established national and international precedent that the winner of spiriting competitions Conclusion Regardless of ongoing legal challenges.
“Thus, in the face of the alff’s blatant disregard towards, Establed Precedent, and Sporting Spirit, We have no choice but to withdraw from the super cup 2025 in protest.” The super cup is to be competed among 16 clubs (13 from Indian Super League and Three from i-League) in a Single-Elimination Knock -out Format. The Isl Teams were seeded for the round of 16 according to their final league positions in the 2024-25 season.
While announcing the schedule on April 7, the aiff had said that churchill brothers, inter kashi and gokulam kerala fc have confirmed participation in the tournament.
Churchill said while the ranks according to 2024-25 Isl Season Standings Have Been Followed for the seeding process of the super cup, the same has not been followed for the i-lead.
“As the team in the first place of the i-league at the end of the 2024- 25 season, churchill brothers fc lying to have been the 14th seed in the super cup. (Ed) The 14th seed to inter kashi through an opaque draw of lots, “The goan club said in the letter.
“Inter kashi has as a result treated their 14th place seed as the aiff giving legitimacy to the patently false claim that they are the winners of the i-league 2024-25. Not only churchill brothers but the reputation of Indian football as a whole.
“This calls Into question the aiff’s competency to act as the impartial governor and regulator of football in India. The draw of lots adopted by the aiff lacques transparent legitimate.” Churchill Brothers Finished Provisionally on Top of the i-League Table (With 40 Points), but their wait for the title and a historic promotion to the Indian Super League Depends on the Verdict of the AFF ‘ Committee which will decide a case involving second-placed inter kashi (39 points).
The controversy related to inter kashi’s match against namdhari sc on January 13, when the latter won 2-0. But the AIFF Disciplinary Committee Later Found Out that Namdhari Fielded an ineligible player. The committee awarded a 3-0 forfeit win to inter kashi along with three points.
However, the AIFF appearance appearance later put the decision “Inopervative and in abyance” until the final hearing. If inter kashi are awarded the three points, they will win the i-league title as they will have 42 points then.
The AIFF appeal committee was to hear the case on April 28 but advanced the date to april 11. Not pronounce a verdict.
Six Clubs, Including Churchill, Allege inter kashi getting benefits from reference errors
In another development, Six Clubs, Including Churchill Brothers, Wrote to the Aiff disciplinary Committee, Raising Reference Concerns and Ethical Issues in the I -legue. The letter was signed by real kashmir, delhi FC, Sreenidi Deccan, Namdhari FC and Aizawl FC, Besides Churchill.
“While we undress that reference is an independent by an independent body and aiff has no direct influence over reference appointments or in-grass – Most, if not all, disparoportionately benefiting One Particular Club, Inter Kashi FC – Raises Serious CONCERNS Regarding Integry and Importia of Match Offirming, “The Six Clubs in the Six in the Six In the Letter.
“As Proof … We have annexed a compilation of specific video clips and match incidences, which cleaned and objectively demonstrate the official inconsistent and their material impact on match outcomes. The six clubs also alleged that “a Senior official from inter kashi has ben in indirect communication with various clubs as well as a aiff officials, allegedly seeking Uneetheical Favours in Favourors in Favor of English Kashi. ” “Such Actions, if found to be true, constituted a serial breach of the princess of fair play and could irreparably harm the integrity and creation of the i-league. Disciplinary Committee to take this representation with the serialness it deserves. “
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by ndtv staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Topics mentioned in this article
