AIFF asks Churchill to return I-League trophy

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) Monday asked Churchill Brothers to return the I-League trophy it presented to the club, even as Goa Football Association (GFA) questioned the rationale behind awarding the silverware despite a stay order from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

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On Sunday, hours after Switzerland-based CAS stayed AIFF’s decision to declare Churchill Brothers as I-League champions and barred it from conducting any formal medal ceremony, the national feder-ation awarded the winners’ trophy to the Goan club.

AIFF deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan presented the trophy to Churchill Brothers players and later claimed that the federation learnt about the CAS order only after the ceremony was over as its secretariat was closed Sunday.

But Monday, the AIFF was forced to ask Churchill to return the trophy.

“On Monday, we have written to Churchill Brothers to return the I-League trophy," an AIFF source told PTI on condition of anonymity. "We are bound to obey CAS order. Let the CAS decide on the matter and we will hand over the trophy after the decision.”