The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has overturned the decision of the AIFF Appeals Committee on Inter Kashi, which had earlier deducted three points from the club in connection with its match against Namdhari FC.
“Inter Kashi welcomes the verdict issued by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the matter of the arbitration filed by the Club, registered as case number CAS 2025/A/11374 (Inter Kashi FC vs AIFF & Churchill Brothers FC Goa & Namdhari FC),” the club’s statement read.
Earlier 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.
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.
In response to the complaint, the AIFF Appeals Committee upheld the appeal of Namdhari FC, Real Kashmir and Churchill Brothers over the re-registration of Mario Barco.
Content Source: sportstar.thehindu.com