AIFF panel meets early to decide I-League champions

PANAJI: The big suspense over the I-League champions is likely to end on Saturday with the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) appeals committee meeting much earlier than scheduled.
The I-League concluded on Sunday without an official champion for the first time. Churchill Brothers finished on top of the table with 40 points, one more than second-placed Inter Kashi (39). Ideally, they should have been crowned champions, but with Kashi scoring twice in stoppage time to edge past Rajasthan United 3-1, they are also in contention for a top spot, and consequently a place in next season’s Indian Super League (ISL).
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Kashi were awarded three points by the AIFF disciplinary committee after Namdhari FC were found to have fielded an ineligible player. The decision was challenged and later stayed by the appeals committee.
Should the appeals committee decide against Namdhari, Kashi will move on top with 42 points. The appeals committee was scheduled to meet on April 28 but with growing pressure on AIFF to announce the champion, the panel has now advanced its meeting to Saturday, April 12.
“This will probably be the most important decision of the appeals committee,” a senior official told TOI. “The I-League champions will be decided based on the order of the committee.”