Kamal Ghorui
New Delhi: Indian Super League (ISL) clubs have jointly rejected the proposal floated by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to include Churchill Brothers in the ongoing season. The clubs have argued that such a move, with the 2025-26 season underway, will be “inconsistent with merit-based participation and undermines competitive integrity.”“Given that this issue was previously deliberated upon and aligned in discussions with the AIFF, we are unclear on the basis for reopening the matter,” the clubs said in a letter to the national federation.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“The ISL 2025–26 league structure is closed and final. It forms the basis of existing sporting, operational, financial and contractual commitments. No expansion or alteration is acceptable at this stage.”On Wednesday, AIFF had written to 12 ISL clubs – excluding FC Goa and Sporting Club Delhi – and sought their consent to include the Goan club into the campaign. FC Goa and SC Delhi had already agreed to inclusion of Churchill Brothers but had added a caveat that they would abide by the decision of the majority of the clubs.
“In any event, as the overwhelming majority of participating clubs do not consent to any expansion, and as the Federation retains regulatory authority over league composition, this matter ought to be treated as closed,” continued the latest communication from the clubs to AIFF.The letter from AIFF to the ISL clubs, signed by deputy secertary-general Satyanarayan M, referenced the messages from SC Delhi and FC Goa on February 13 – a day before the much-delayed and truncated season got underway.Churchill Brothers’ desperate plea to be included in the ISL had earlier been questioned by the 14 ISL clubs on February 11. A day later, the AIFF Executive Committee had also quashed the proposal.The issue stems from last season’s controversy in the I-League where Churchill were declared provisional winners of the 2024-25 season. However, Inter Kashi, who were docked points during the season, were successful in getting that decision overturned by going to the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS). Consequently, Inter Kashi were promoted to the top division where they have already played two matches and drawn both.
