I-League ends but no one wins; ball in AIFF’s court | Football News

Real Kashmir played out a draw with Churchill Brothers to close the I-League season. (Image: AIFF)

Panaji: At a time when Indian football is making news for the wrong reasons, here’s another unwanted first for the sport in the country.
The I-League, Indian football’s second-tier club competition run by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), saw high-intensity contests on the concluding day, but there was no champion.
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As things stand, Churchill Brothers finished on top with 40 points, one more than second-placed Inter Kashi (39). Ideally, they should have been crowned champions, but with Kashi scoring twice in stoppage time to edge past Rajasthan United 3-1 at home, they are also in contention for the top spot, and consequently a place in next season’s Indian Super League (ISL).

Kashi were awarded three points by the AIFF disciplinary committee after Namdhari were found to have fielded an ineligible player. That decision was challenged and later stayed by the appeals committee, with the next hearing scheduled for April 28. Should the appeals committee decide that the forfeiture stands, Kashi will move on top with 42 points.
“While the draw against Real Kashmir keeps Churchill Brothers at the top of the table, they must await the result of the AIFF Appeals Committee’s hearing,” the AIFF said in its official report. Till then, no team can celebrate.

When the referee blew the final whistle in Srinagar after Churchill were held 1-1 by Real Kashmir, some of the visiting players fell to the ground, knowing they had blown away a chance to win the title outright, without waiting for the appeals committee verdict.
The Alemao family, out there in full force, were celebrating right in the middle of the field, only to be later greeted by a post from AIFF which said, “@churchillbrothersfcgoa provisionally finish top of the #ILeague table!”