JOVITO LOPES
MARGAO: Even as the original I-League trophy continues to be in the custody of Churchill Brothers, the All India Football Federation presented a duplicate trophy to Inter-Kashi after the team’s match against Jamshedpur FC at the Athletic Stadium, Bambolim, on Saturday.
The new trophy was handed over by AIFF Secretary Satyanarayan Muthyalu in the presence of Goa Football Association President Caitano Fernandes.
“The original trophy was presented by the AIFF to Churchill Brothers on April 17, during the celebration-cum-felicitation function at Cavelossim, which was attended by hundreds of fans and supporters of the club. The AIFF Secretary had flown from New Delhi with the trophy and medals which were presented to the players and officials of the club,” stated Churchill Alemao, president of the club.
“Churchill Brothers were crowned champions for the third time, but the AIFF did not present the trophy and medals after their last match in Srinagar as stipulated in the rules, on the ground that an enquiry against an Inter Kashi player was pending. We appealed to AIFF Appeals Committee and to Delhi High Court, which subsequently directed the AIFF to present the trophy to us,” disclosed Churchill.
“Subsequently, the matter was taken to CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) in Geneva which gave an operative order declaring Inter Kashi as champions. CAS has never asked us till date to return the trophy, and the final order is yet to be given. We have written to the AIFF on the issue,” stressed Churchill.
Savio Alemao, vice-president of Churchill Brothers, disclosed that the club is awaiting the final order from CAS.
“We will challenge the same in the Swiss Federal Tribunal. As such, the matter is sub-judice and we have already informed the Federation,” declared Savio.
He pointed out that Churchill Brothers had informed the AIFF after the latter’s letter dated August 14, that the club would not return the original trophy which was awarded to them.
“The CAS award does not specify that Churchill Brothers should return the trophy. Hence at this stage, is not failing to comply with the relevant award issued by CAS,” stated Savio.
“The prayer for relief submitted by Inter Kashi under its appeal brief, i.e. the AIFF shall hold a prize presentation ceremony in consultation with Inter Kashi to award the trophy to Inter Kashi FC and to shine a deserved spotlight on the club, its players and their achievements, has been rejected by the Sole Arbitrator according to the operative part of the CAS award. All other and further motions or prayers for relief are dismissed,” elaborated Savio in reply to the AIFF.
He stated, “The AIFF was informed that the plea to return the trophy was not justified by the decision of CAS, according to the operative part of the CAS Award which makes clear that all other and further motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.”
Savio pointed out that “Churchill Bothers has filed an initial request for suspensive effects before the Swiss Federal Tribunal in preparation for a potential appeal aimed at having the CAS Award annulled. We shall wait for the full award to be notified before submitting an appeal. As such, the matter is still pending on the merits before the Swiss Federal Tribunal and the CAS Award cannot be considered as final and binding, which means it is not enforceable at this stage.”
Churchill said, “The AIFF’s request to return the original trophy lacked any legal basis and that it was premature.
“I requested that the AIFF should wait for the procedure before the Swiss Federal Tribunal to conclude before taking any additional measure or notifying any request with respect to the trophy,” added Churchill.
“It is very shocking that the AIFF presented a duplicate trophy to Inter Kashi. A new record, a substandard, illogical and unheard one, has been set up in the history of football. We are witnessing a very low standard of football. We rank 136th in the world. We cannot even qualify among the Asian nations in World Cup qualifiers. The spectators didn’t even show interest in watching a match like India-Singapore held at Fatorda last month.”
“Football is on a downward trend. Look at the attendance at the Super Cup matches currently in progress in the State. Fan attendance is on decline and it is the Federation that is responsible for such a poor state of affairs,” lamented Churchill.
“The trophy does not belong only to Churchill Brothers, players, officials, but also to the football crazy Goa and Goans. It is unfortunate that some of our own personalities governing football opt to cheer an Uttar Pradesh Club in preference to a Goan club. Our fight is for fairness, respect and legacy of Goan football. It represents the voice of every Goan who has kept football alive through generations. We shall continue to fight with the same integrity and resilience that made this club rise right from the Third Division to Asian Football Confederation (AFC) rank,” summed up Churchill.
Meanwhile, AIFF Secretary General SatyanarayanMuthyalu has been quoted in a section of the media that AIFF would seek legal advice and take all necessary steps to reclaim the I-League Trophy from Churchill Brothers.
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AIFF presents replica I-League trophy to Inter Kashi after CAS verdict
BAMBOLIM: The All India Football Federation on Saturday finally presented a replica of the I-League trophy to Inter Kashi, six months after handing the same silverware to Churchill Brothers, following a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) that declared the debutants as the rightful champions.
The AIFF made the presentation after Kashi’s final group league Super Cup match against Jamshedpur FC at the Athletic Stadium, here, bringing closure to a prolonged legal battle that had overshadowed one of the most dramatic I-League seasons in recent memory.
“Inter Kashi have been presented with the I-League 2024-25 trophy,” I-League posted in its ‘X’ handle with a photo of the Inter Kashi ‘Champions’ side. The CAS had in July overturned the AIFF Appeals Committee’s decision that had awarded the title to Churchill Brothers, directing the Federation to “forthwith declare Inter Kashi FC as winner of the I-League 2024 25 season.”
