Barely three years after its formation, Inter Kashi is now facing existential crisis. The Varanasi-based club, built with the ambition of nurturing football in Uttar Pradesh, is contemplating withdrawing from the Indian Super League (ISL), the top tier of Indian football.
At the heart of the crisis lies a prolonged legal dispute with Churchill Brothers over the 2024–25 I-League title and the pathway to promotion into the ISL. What began as a disagreement has spiraled into a courtroom saga, with the Goan outfit recently approaching the Delhi High Court. Their latest petition alleges that Inter Kashi violated AIFF regulations by staging “home” matches in Kalyani, West Bengal, instead of Varanasi.
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According to RevSportz, the club’s owners have already spent approximately Rs 4.5 crore navigating multiple legal proceedings, with the number of cases reportedly running into double digits.
For Inter Kashi management, the issue is as much about principle as it is about survival.
“We told AIFF that our academy is in Kashi, and our youth team is also playing in Kashi. When we gave the bid to AIFF, we took five years to establish things in Varanasi. We also told the federation that they have charged us money to play outside UP. But AIFF is still not taking any stand,” a senior club official was quoted as saying by the media outlet.
“In Indian football, no one really earns money. Inter Kashi was formed with a vision to help develop the game in Uttar Pradesh. If the federation does not support us, then why should we continue?” the official added, capturing the growing disillusionment within the camp.
The frustration has reached a point where even the idea of walking away no longer feels extreme.
“If you were in our position, you would have stopped as well. After doing so much, why should we take this level of harassment?” he asked.
The turmoil has also begun to seep into the dressing room. Recently, veteran Spanish coach Antonio Lopez Habas publicly raised concerns over delayed salaries following a defeat to Punjab FC in an ISL game on April 20.
“We have been fighting since last season 100 per cent, and now it is possible that the players and staff will not receive their salaries,” Habas said in the post-match press conference.
Club management, however, insists the delays are temporary and linked to the mounting legal costs.
“I share the frustration of Habas. I am also wondering why we are fighting so much? Instead of focusing on football, we have to go to the Delhi High Court and file cases with lawyers. They (Churchill Brothers) have filed one case after another—around 11–12 cases in total. They keep filing cases repeatedly, trying to block everything. They approach the government, push for ISL inclusion, and pursue everything except playing football,” the official said.
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He clarified that dues are not significantly overdue: “The players’ salaries are monthly, and even then, they are not overdue for a long period. It’s not like six months of salary is pending. The salaries for February are delayed, which will be cleared soon.”
On the pitch, Inter Kashi’s campaign has been modest. The side currently sits eighth in the ISL standings with 11 points from nine matches, registering three wins, four defeats, and two no-results.
