CAS Overturns AIFF Decision in Favor of Inter Kashi FC

Court of Arbitration for Sports Rules in Favor of Inter Kashi

In a significant ruling that raises concerns about the decision-making processes within the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) has reversed the appeal committee's ruling against Inter Kashi FC.

Inter Kashi had approached CAS after disputing a 0-2 loss to Namdhari in January, claiming that Namdhari had fielded an ineligible player, Cledson Carvalho da Silva, who should have been suspended due to accumulating four yellow cards. Initially, the AIFF's disciplinary committee ruled in favor of Inter Kashi, declaring the match a forfeit for Namdhari and awarding three points to Inter. However, the AIFF appeal committee later suspended this decision.

According to the CAS ruling, "The appeal submitted on April 24, 2025, by Inter Kashi FC against the AIFF appeal committee's decision from April 18, 2025, is upheld." Furthermore, the AIFF has been instructed to cover 40% of the arbitration costs.

The arbitration costs will be divided among the parties involved, with Inter Kashi FC responsible for 20%, the AIFF for 40%, and the remaining 20% shared by Churchill Brothers FC Goa and Namdhari FC.

This ruling has been positively received by officials from both Inter Kashi and the AIFF.

In a statement, Inter Kashi expressed satisfaction with the CAS decision regarding their case, registered as CAS 2025/A/11374. They noted that the CAS ruling nullifies the AIFF appeal committee's earlier decision to deduct three points from the club concerning the match against Namdhari, and they prefer not to comment further at this time.

M. Satyanarayan, the acting secretary general of the AIFF, acknowledged the ruling, stating, "We respect the independent committee's findings and will comply with today's CAS decision. We remain neutral in this matter," he told a media outlet.

Despite this favorable ruling, Inter Kashi will not yet be declared I-League Champions, as they have another pending petition with CAS regarding the appeal committee's decision that resulted in a three-point deduction.

The appeal committee, chaired by Justice (retd) Rajesh Tandon, had determined that Mario Barco Vilar, who was released and subsequently re-registered by Inter Kashi, was incorrectly allowed to play in matches against Namdhari XI, Churchill Brothers, and Real Kashmir FC.

Interestingly, the AIFF's League Committee, responsible for overseeing the league, had approved Vilar's re-registration on February 15.