Inter Kashi has been officially declared the I-League 2024–25 champions following a decisive verdict from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which ruled in the club’s favour in a contentious dispute involving Spanish striker Mario Barco’s player registration.
The legal saga revolved around Kashi’s decision to register Barco twice during the season—initially before the campaign began, and then again in February after his recovery from a December injury. The All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) Competitions Committee had ruled the second registration invalid, citing I-League regulations that restrict re-registration of an injured foreign player within the same season. This led to a four-point deduction, pushing Inter Kashi down the standings.
Barco was originally replaced by Matija Babovic following his injury but returned to the squad after Juan Pérez del Pino mutually terminated his contract. While Regulation 6.5.7 allows clubs to make up to three foreign replacements in cases of injury, illness, or mutual termination, the Committee interpreted that a re-registration after injury recovery was not permissible.
The League Committee initially sided with Kashi, but the Appeals Committee reinstated the penalty, costing them valuable points in the title race.
Inter Kashi then took the case to CAS, which ultimately overturned the deduction. In its verdict, CAS ruled that the club had not breached any binding rule in a manner that warranted points deduction and reinstated the points.
This marks the club’s second successful legal appeal of the season. Earlier, it had won another CAS decision awarding it three points after Namdhari FC fielded a suspended player, Cledson Da Silva.
With the latest CAS decision, Inter Kashi’s final point tally stands at 42, edging past Churchill Brothers, who finish with 40 points, to clinch the league title.
“The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) serves as the highest judicial authority for resolving disputes in the field of sports. The All India Football Federation respects and upholds the decisions delivered by the CAS,” said AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey following the verdict.
Inter Kashi’s triumph not only marks a dramatic end to the league campaign but also sets a precedent for how procedural clarity and timely legal recourse can reshape a football season.