Churchill Brothers have withdrawn from the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 citing the draw/seeding which seemed to indicate that Inter Kashi are the I-League Champions despite a pending decision with the AIFF appeals committee which will determine the 2024-25 I-League Champions.
Currently, Churchill Brothers are leading the table by a point with the league completed, but a pending AIFF appeals committee decision could lead to CB conceding the title to Inter Kashi.
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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 which the Super Cup 2025 draw had occurred. We have received no clarification as to the reason for the highly irregular and unconventional process adopted by the AIFF in conducting the draw, nor has said process been rectified. As things stand, while the ranks according to 2024-25 ISL season standings have been followed for the seeding process of the Super Cup 2025, the same has nott been followed for the I-League. As the team in first place of the I-League at the end of the 2024-25 season, Churchill Brothers FC ought to have been the 14th seed in the Super Cup, however, the AIFF’s has instead opted to disregard the table and instead award the 14th seed to Inter Kashi FC through an opaque draw of lots.
Inter Kashi FC 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. The AIFF’s continued inaction in this regard damages not only Churchill Brothers FC 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 lacks transparent legitimacy. Further, the fact that different teams have been subject to different methods of determining their seed for the competition is patently unfair.
It is noteworthy that this has occurred in the backdrop of the AIFF refusing to award Churchill Brothers FC the 2024-25 I-League trophy as required under Rule 14.4 of the I-League Regulations 2024-25. This refusal and disregard for the competition rules has occurred despite the fact that there is well established national and international precedent that the winner of sporting competitions must be declared upon the competition’s conclusion regardless of ongoing legal challenges.
Thus, in the face of the AIFF’s blatant disregard towards rules, established precedent, and sporting spirit, we have no choice but to withdraw from the Super Cup 2025 in protest.
Regards,
Churchill Brothers FC Goa
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