A fresh twist befell the fate of the I-League 2024-25 title winner with the All India Football Federation’s Appeals Committee passing a new order regarding the eligibility of Inter Kashi’s foreign player Mario Barco.
What is the matter surrounding Mario Barco’s eligibility?
In April, Namdhari FC filed a complaint with the AIFF, alleging that Inter Kashi violated articles 6.5.6 and 6.5.7 of the I-League regulations by registering a ‘seventh foreign player’ during the 2024–25 season. These clauses limit clubs to six registered foreign players and prohibit reinstating a foreign player who was already replaced during the same season.
Namdhari claimed that Spanish striker Barco was replaced by Serbian player Matija Babovic due to injury on match day 9. However, Inter Kashi later reinstated Barco for match day 15, replacing Juan Perez del Pino, whose contract was mutually terminated on February 1.
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Churchill Brothers and Real Kashmir, both of whom faced Barco — during a 2-2 draw on March 30 and a 1-3 loss on March 2 respectively — have also appealed to the AIFF, alleging the use of an ineligible player.
What is AIFF Appeals Committee’s new order?
The AIFF Appeals Committee on Saturday upheld the appeal of Namdhari FC, Real Kashmir and Churchill Brothers over the re-registration of Mario Barco.
What does it mean with respect to the fate of I-League title winner?
With the new order, Churchill Brothers will stay at the top but increase its points to 42. Inter Kashi, previously second, will drop to fourth with 35 points. Real Kashmir will move to second place with 37 points (previously 39). Churchill Brothers will then be declared the I-League 2024–25 season champion.
What is Inter Kashi’s response?
Inter Kashi responded in a statement, saying it would appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), while maintaining that it had complied with the league regulations “in both letter and spirit.”
It added, “The club is flabbergasted that such simple rules and regulations can be twisted and misinterpreted in such a manner through which the club is now suffering without any fault of its own.”
What about Inter Kashi’s other appeal to CAS?
Inter Kashi had earlier lodged an appeal with CAS regarding the ineligibility of Namdhari’s Cledson Carvalho da Silva (De). Inter claimed that De had featured in the match on January 13 despite him being suspended for accumulating four yellow cards.
The AIFF Disciplinary Committee had considered the fixture to be a forfeit for Namdhari and awarded three points for Inter but the Appeals Committe stayed the decision on March 27.
After Inter’s appeal, CAS had ordered AIFF not to declare Churchill Brothers as I-League champion.
Content Source: sportstar.thehindu.com