‘No Quorum, No Call’: AIFF Executive Meet Collapses Amid Churchill ISL Standoff
The All India Football Federation failed to hold a scheduled executive committee meeting on Monday due to lack of quorum. The meeting was called off after an insufficient number of members logged in. Notices for online attendance were sent barely 24 hours in advance. The request had come from three committee members over the Churchill Brothers FC issue. There are 22 members on the executive panel. At least 12 were required for quorum. Only 10 registered their presence. After waiting for nearly 25 minutes, the federation cancelled the meeting. Key agenda items were left untouched. These included discussions on ISL and I-League governance charters and the proposed rebranding of the I-League as the Indian Football League. All were pushed back. The uncertainty over Churchill Brothers’ demand to play in the ISL remains unresolved. This comes just five days before the league kicks off on February 14. “No quorum, so no meeting,” a source told News9 Sports. “AIFF may have to call another one.” No official reason was given for the absence of members. However, the situation has raised concerns internally. Vice-president NA Harris and treasurer Kipa Ajay were absent without prior notice. Two other members opted out after saying they would accept the majority decision. “This is unprecedented,” said a person familiar with AIFF meetings. “Not even during Covid did this happen. It shows disinterest or frustration.” Churchill push continues Churchill Brothers, runners-up in last season’s I-League, continue to push for ISL inclusion. This is despite losing their case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which confirmed Inter Kashi as champions and promoted them to the ISL. Churchill wrote to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey last week after meeting him in New Delhi. They claimed the matter is still sub judice and insisted on being included in the ISL. The club has reached out to ISL teams, executive committee members and political contacts to strengthen its position. This prompted three committee members to demand a meeting, forcing AIFF to act even after releasing ISL fixtures on February 7. Hours before the meeting, Inter Kashi objected strongly. The club said Churchill were misleading AIFF. “The CAS award is final and enforceable,” Kashi’s lawyers wrote. They pointed out that the Swiss Federal Supreme Court had already dismissed Churchill’s appeal and annulment plea. “There is no legal basis to provisionally include Churchill Brothers in the ISL,” the letter said. The Delhi High Court has also disposed of Churchill’s petition against AIFF. Despite this, a Churchill official remained defiant. “Only I can say, we are in ISL,” he said, without details. Churchill have skipped I-League meetings ahead of the February 21 season start. They are firm on one point. ISL football, or no football at all.
“Surya has made My Life Easier”; Gautam Gambhir remarks on Yadav’s Captaincy
Gautam Gambhir, the Indian head coach, lauded T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav on his leadership. He praised his eased captainship under pressure during the marquee tournament ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Gambhir demonstrated in a video clip shared by Star Sports how the skipper has transformed the greenroom atmosphere. He emphasised how his impact surpasses, “Surya has made my life a lot easier in this format. He is a phenomenal leader of men.” He further opened up about how Yadav’s strength lies in connecting with teammates. “Not by what he does on the field, not by how he is as a batsman… but the way he relates to the players, the way he talks to players, the way he spends time with players,” Gambhir explained. He further added how a relaxed presence can ensure a calm and composed situation under pressure, “any coach can dream of.” India kick-started their World Cup campaign, securing a 29-run win against the USA after an early collapse. “For me, I think Surya the player I can keep him aside but Surya the leader, for me, I think he has ticked every box. He is just a phenomenal leader…,” Gambhir stated. “It’s a great thing when you have someone like him leading the country because his heart is in the right place and he takes the right decision, especially when things are under pressure.” India will now prepare to face Namibia on Thursday.
“Surgery Done Right”; Harshit Rana Gives Massive Update after World Cup Heartbreak
Harshit Rana, the Indian pacer, recently shared his injury update on Monday. He was ruled out of the T20 World Cup due to his knee injury. Rana took to social media and posted his picture after the surgery. He wrote on his Instagram, “Surgery done right, now focused on recovery and getting back to what I love.” After Rana became unavailable for the tournament, Mohammed Siraj took his place in the squad. The pacer adorned the injury during the warm-up game against South Africa. While talking about it the skipper Suryakumar Yadav admitted that the injury did not look good. Later on, ICC’s official site informed through a press release on Friday that, “Siraj, who has played 45 Tests, 50 ODIs and 16 T20Is, was named as a replacement after Rana was ruled out with an injury to his right knee that was sustained during the warm-up game against South Africa on 4 February.”
