All posts tagged: ILeague

I-League officially rebranded to Indian Football League

I-League officially rebranded to Indian Football League

Published by Webster

I-League, the second division of Indian football, has been officially rebranded to the Indian Football League (IFL), the All India Football Federation announced on Thursday. The decision was taken during an online meeting of the AIFF Executive Committee. “The All India Football Federation’s Executive Committee, in an online meeting on Thursday, February 12, 2026, approved the rebranding of the I-League to the Indian Football League from the 2025-26 season,” the AIFF said in a statement. The proposal to rebrand the I-League as Indian Football League was made last month by the club owners along with the AIFF. The I-League was launched in 2007 as India’s top tier league, before being demoted to the second division ahead of the 2025-26 season. The delayed 2025-26 season of the Indian Football League is set to commence on 21 February, 2026. The committee also ratified the charter for the Governing Council of the Indian Super League as well as the Indian Football League. The Indian Super League 2025-26 is set to commence on Saturday after a long period of …

I-League rebranded as Indian Football League, 2025-26 season to begin on February 21

I-League rebranded as Indian Football League, 2025-26 season to begin on February 21

Published by Webster

The I-League will officially begin its 2025-26 season on February 21 under a revised identity and competition structure, following a meeting between club representatives and officials of the All India Football Federation in New Delhi on Wednesday. As part of the overhaul, the I-League will now be referred to as the Indian Football League, while continuing to function as the second tier of the Indian football pyramid below the Indian Super League. Clubs have proposed the creation of a Governing Council and a Managing Committee, with representation from participating teams, the AIFF and a future commercial partner. The proposal has been forwarded to the AIFF Executive Committee for approval. According to the plan submitted by the clubs, the upcoming season will follow a two-stage format. In the opening phase, teams will compete in a single-leg home-and-away round-robin. Based on standings after Stage 1, the league will then split into two groups. The top half will enter a home-and-away championship round, while the remaining teams will contest a centralised relegation round. Points earned in the first …

I-League gets new name, new format, new governing council | Football News

I-League gets new name, new format, new governing council | Football News

Published by Parlour News

The second tier of domestic football, called the I-League till now, has been rechristened Indian Football League, with the new season starting on February 21 with a new format and new governing council. The announcement was made jointly by All India Football Federation (AIFF) and club representatives on Wednesday. The new-name league, still the second division in the Indian footballing ecosystem, would now consist of a Governing Council in which the clubs, the AIFF and the commercial partner would be represented and hold equity. For long-term followers of the I-League, this change in name isn’t new. In 1996, the AIFF started a semi-professional competition called the National Football League. Then in 2007, it was rebranded as the I-League. Later, the I-League was demoted to the second division of Indian football and the parallel venture called Indian Super League became the top tier in the country. There is no clarity about the platform (television or online) where Indian Football League matches would be aired during the reduced 2025-26 season and the AIFF and clubs are yet …

I-League: Sporting Club Bengaluru handed transfer ban by AIFF

I-League: Sporting Club Bengaluru handed transfer ban by AIFF

Published by Webster

The All India Football Federation has imposed a transfer ban on I-League outfit Sporting Club Bengaluru, The Bridge has learnt. “We wish to inform the parties that a ban on Sporting Club Bengaluru from registering new players has been implemented by the AIFF,” a letter from the national federation to the club, which is in possession of this publication, read. The ban effective from Monday comes after Sporting Club Bengaluru’s failure to provide any reply on the allegations of financial non-compliance in accordance with the decision of the AIFF Player Status Committee. The transfer ban has been imposed according to the Article 31 of AIFF Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, 2025. As per the rule, the ban will remain until the due amounts are paid. “The overall maximum duration of the registration ban, including possible sporting sanctions, shall be of three entire and consecutive registration periods, subject to Article 31.7,” the AIFF Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, 2025 further reads. This essentially means that the transfer ban on Sporting …

Football: AIFF hands Inter Kashi I-League trophy 8 months after league ends

Football: AIFF hands Inter Kashi I-League trophy 8 months after league ends

Published by Webster

Eight months after the 2024-25 I-League came to a controversial conclusion, Inter Kashi were finally awarded the champions trophy on Saturday. This development comes months after the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld Inter Kashi’s appeal and crowned them the rightful 2024-25 I-League champions back. The CAS crowned Inter Kashi the champions on 18 July, but All India Football Federation had handed the champions trophy to Churchill Brothers on the same day. #News | Inter Kashi finally awarded the 2024-25 I-League trophy🔥 8 months after the completion of the league and the legal battle that followed with Churchill Brothers, the AIFF finally handed over Inter Kashi the trophy👀#Football pic.twitter.com/N54zAMWOQE — The Bridge (@the_bridge_in) November 1, 2025 The national federation had later contended that the directive from CAS came after they crowned Churchill Brothers the champions on a Sunday, when their secretariat remains closed. Disclaimer: We do not own any of the content, ideas, images, or text presented here. All rights belong to their respective owners. For more information and to view the original source, please …

AIFF crowns Churchill Brothers I-League champions despite CAS stay order, cites holiday for delay

AIFF crowns Churchill Brothers I-League champions despite CAS stay order, cites holiday for delay

Published by Webster

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) went ahead and crowned Churchill Brothers as the 2024–25 I-League champions on Sunday, just hours after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) issued a stay order prohibiting the medal ceremony. Churchill Brothers received the trophy at a private event in South Goa, where AIFF Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan handed it over to club owner Alemao Churchill. This happened despite CAS explicitly directing the federation not to organise any medal presentation or announce a winner until Inter Kashi’s appeal was resolved. Earlier in the day, CAS granted Inter Kashi’s request for provisional measures, putting a freeze on the AIFF Appeals Committee’s April 18 decision that had confirmed Churchill Brothers as champions. The Swiss-based court ordered that “the All India Football Federation is not to declare the winner of the I-League 2024-25 or conduct a medal ceremony” until the arbitration is concluded. The respondents — AIFF, Churchill Brothers, and Namdhari FC — were given until April 29 to file their replies. However, the AIFF defended its move by claiming …

Relief for Inter Kashi as CAS orders AIFF not to declare Churchill Brothers as I-League champions or organise medal ceremony

Relief for Inter Kashi as CAS orders AIFF not to declare Churchill Brothers as I-League champions or organise medal ceremony

Published by Webster

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which is the top court to adjudicate sports disputes internationally, has asked the All India Football Federation to hold off on declaring Churchill Brothers as the I-League champions. The CAS stayed the AIFF’s decision while hearing an appeal from Inter Kashi. A ruling from the Deputy President of the CAS Appeals Arbitration Division Sport stated: “The All India Football Federation is ordered not to declare the winner of the I-League 2024/2025 or organise a medal ceremony for the I-League 2024-25 until the present arbitration has been concluded.” The dispute was born because in an I League game, Kashi’s opponents Namdhari FC reportedly fielded an ineligible player against the club. At the end of the season, Inter Kashi and Churchill Brothers found themselves in a limbo in the points table. Churchill were on top of the standings with 40 points after 22 rounds, while Inter Kashi had 39. The I League winner secures an entry into the ISL. But Inter Kashi appealed the final standings to AIFF, whose Appeals …

CAS stays AIFF order which crowned Churchill Brothers I-League champions

CAS stays AIFF order which crowned Churchill Brothers I-League champions

Published by Webster

The Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) has stayed the All India Football Federation Appeal Committee’s decision to crown Churchill Brothers as the 2024-25 I-League champions on Sunday. The Deputy President of the Appeals Arbitration division of CAS, in an order instructed the AIFF not to host any medal ceremony until the current arbitration has ended. The matter will now be heard at the Court of Arbitration of Sport before a winner is crowned in the second division of Indian football. Inter Kashi had approached the CAS after AIFF’s decision to crown Churchill Brothers as the 2024-25 I-League champions did not sit well with them. 🚨 CLUB STATEMENT 🚨 Inter Kashi welcomes the Order on its Request for Provisional Measures issued by the Deputy President of the Appeals Arbitration Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the Case filed by Inter Kashi at the CAS with case number CAS 2025/A/11374.… — Inter Kashi (@InterKashi) April 27, 2025 “Inter Kashi welcomes the Order on its Request for Provisional Measures issued by the Deputy President …

Churchill get I-League title & ISL promotion after AIFF panel verdict, Inter Kashi to approach CAS | Football News

Churchill get I-League title & ISL promotion after AIFF panel verdict, Inter Kashi to approach CAS | Football News

Published by Webster

After weeks of uncertainty and drama, Churchill Brothers, the provisional I-League leaders, was adjudged champions for the 2024-25 season by the Appeals Committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Saturday. The AIFF confirmation of the Goan club’s title triumph, however, is unlikely to bring closure to one of the most turbulent seasons in Indian domestic football as Inter Kashi, the other claimant to the second-tier title, announcing their intention to approach the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following the Appeals Committee’s decision. The championship outcome had been uncertain due to a dispute involving Inter Kashi, the newly-formed club who finished second in the league but were contesting the result of their match against Namdhari FC (which they lost 2-0), alleging that the opposition fielded an ineligible player – Brazilian midfielder Cledson C Silva. Story continues below this ad The AIFF initially formed a disciplinary committee to investigate the matter, and the initial ruling awarded a 3-0 win to Inter Kashi which would have taken them two points clear of Churchill Brothers and …

CAS stays AIFF order which crowned Churchill Brothers I-League champions

Churchill Brothers named I-League 2024–25 Champions

Published by Webster

Ending weeks of chaos and controversy, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday officially declared Churchill Brothers as the champions of the I-League 2024–25 season, securing their long-awaited promotion to the Indian Super League (ISL). The decision brings closure to one of the most dramatic and contentious I-League seasons in recent memory. Churchill Brothers had finished top of the table with 40 points following a 1-1 draw against Real Kashmir on the final matchday. However, their status as champions remained in limbo due to an unresolved disciplinary issue involving fellow title challengers Inter Kashi. The controversy centered around a previous AIFF ruling that awarded Inter Kashi three points after Namdhari FC were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player. Namdhari appealed this suspension, stating they were not given a fair opportunity to contest the referee’s decision — a violation of the principle of natural justice. The AIFF Appeals Committee, in its reasoning, agreed that proper communication and rebuttal time were not given. As a result, the committee partially lifted the suspension, allowing the player …