New Delhi: Churchill Brothers have pulled out of the upcoming Super Cup, informing their decision to the All India Football Federation on Saturday after accusing the governing body of failing to undertake a transparent method to seed opponents.
The I-League side were drawn to face Indian Super League Shield and Cup champions Mohun Bagan on April 20, the opening day of the tournament that will be held in Bhubaneswar.
A total of 16 teams were drawn to participate with Churchill, Inter Kashi and Gokulam Kerala being the three I-League sides scheduled to compete against 13 ISL teams.
The competition is set to kick-off on April 20 with Kerala Blasters taking on defending champions East Bengal in a 4.30 pm kick-off.
“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,” the club wrote to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey.
“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 not been followed for the I-League.
“As the team in first place of the I-League at the end of the 202425 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 club pointed out.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
Complaint against Inter Kashi
Six I-League clubs have fired a fresh salvo at Inter Kashi for alleged unethical practices after they placed their submissions to the All India Football Federation’s appeals committee on Saturday.
With 39 points, Kashi finished second behind Churchill Brothers in the I-League after three points and three goals awarded to them by AIFF’s disciplinary committee as punishment to Namdhari FC for fielding an ineligible player, were put on hold by the appeals committee.
The final hearing of the appeals committee was scheduled for April 28 but following Kashi’s request it was expedited to April 12, six days after the conclusion of the league.
Multiple clubs have lodged complaints against each other of fielding ineligible players, with all of those cases pending before AIFF’s disciplinary committee. A date of hearing is yet to be fixed for them.
Namdhari’s lawyer Shivam Singh excused himself from Sunday’s hearing citing ill health while Kashi presented their case on Sunday at the physical hearing.
A day after the case was heard, Churchill, Real Kashmir, Delhi FC, Sreenidi Deccan, Namdhari and Aizawl have appealed to AIFF’s disciplinary committee to take note of ethical malpractices of Kashi.
They even pointed out six instances of questionable decisions in which referees favoured Kashi.
“Furthermore, it has come to our attention that a senior official from Inter Kashi has been in indirect communication with various clubs as well as AIFF officials, allegedly seeking unethical favours in favor of Inter Kashi,” it was written in a letter undersigned by officials of the six clubs.
“Such actions, if found to be true, constitute a serious breach of the principles of fair play and could irreparably harm the integrity and credibility of the l-League.
“We are compelled to bring to your kind attention certain grave concerns regarding the integrity of officiating during the season. While we understand that refereeing is overseen by an independent body and the AIFF has no direct influence over refereeing appointments or in-game decisions, the recurring pattern of glaring officiating errors—most, if not all, disproportionately benefiting one particular club, Inter Kashi FC—raises serious concerns regarding the integrity and impartiality of match officiating.”
Churchill Brothers were drawn to face ISL Shield and Cup champions Mohun Bagan in Bhubaneswar on the opening day of the Super Cup on April 20. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
