Churchill Brothers finished at the top of the I-league table on Sunday with a 1-1 draw against Real Kashmir at TRC ground with 40 points from 22 matches. Still, the Goan outfit cannot be declared I-league 2025 champion which could help them to earn qualification for the ISL next season. 

The reason is Namdhari FC’s appeal to the AIFF Appeal Committee for the stay-order on awarding three points to Inter Kashi. The UP-based team which played all the home matches in the I-League at Kalyani Stadium, West Bengal can become the I-League champion this season and obtain the qualification for the ISL next year if they are awarded the desired three points finally by the AIFF Appeal Committee in their scheduled meeting on 28th April. Kashi is breathing on Churchill Brothers’ neck after finishing at the second spot with 39 points from 22 matches. 

Why did Namdhari FC move to the Appeal Committee? Inter Kashi complained to the AIFF against Namdhari FC’s Brazilian striker Cledson Degol who was played in the 45th match of the I-League this season against Inter Kashi despite being allegedly suspended for the match. Namdhari FC in its replication moved to AIFF Appeal Committee seeking stay-order on allotting three points to Kashi with the clarification that Degol was not suspended for the respective match. 

But what is the story? Statistics show that Degol saw his first yellow card in Namdhari FC’s first match against Delhi FC. Then the Brazilian striker again was shown a yellow card in his team’s third match against Dempo SC. Then in Namdhari FC’s fifth match against Real Kashmir Degol first saw another yellow card and then was sent off with a red card after arguing with the referee. 

Following request from Namdhari FC to the Federation, the Brazilian striker was suspended for only one match instead of three against SC Bengaluru FC. 

But surprisingly, Degol’s yellow-card was not uploaded to the AIFF's Competition Management System (CMS). Even, the yellow card that Degol was shown again in the team's seventh match against the Churchill brothers could not be found in the CMS and this was the fourth yellow card Degol saw and with four cautions he was supposed to be suspended for the match against Inter Kashi. 

But Namdhari FC, in its appeal mentioned that AIFF’s CMS showed only three cautions to their Brazilian striker. Namdhari FC also mentioned that the CMS even did not show that Degol was suspended for Inter Kashi match. 

Inter Kashi already celebrtaed their I-league triumph after winning their Sunday's match with the hope that AIFF will award them three points that will help them clinch the I-League title and qualification for the ISL. 

The reason behind the hope is a I-League rules. The 6.2.3 clause in I-League rules say that the participating clubs will be completely responsible to know about which of their footballers are suspended for the next matches. I-league committee has no responsibility to make the respective teams about suspension of their footballers. 

Churchill Brothers have already criticized the title uncertainty stating, Championships are won on pitch-not in the court! The AIFF Appeal Committee will ultimately decide the fate of the title this season. If Inter Kashi finally clinches the title then ‘CMS’ will be the unsung villain!