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I-League, the second tier of Indian Football, was once the top-tier football league of the country, before the Indian Super League (ISL) replaced it. From 1996 to the 2006-07 season, the league was named the National Football League, and from 2007-08, it was rebranded as the I-League.
The league operates on a relegation and promotion system with I-League 2 and a first-only promotion system with the ISL, from the 2022–23 season. This means the I-League winners get a promotion to the Indian Super League, whereas the bottom team gets relegated to I-League 2.
Since the rebranding of the league, Dempo SC have won the league most times (3). Churchill Brothers, Mohun Bagan, Bengaluru and Gokulam Kerala have won the league twice.
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Inter Kashi were on Friday declared I-League 2024-25 champions after the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) Appeal Committee's decision of awarding the title to Churchill Brothers of Goa.
This made Inter Kashi only the third team to get promoted from I-League to ISL, after Punjab FC (RoundGlass Punjab), Mohammedan Sporting.
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Why was there confusion about announcing the I-League 2024-25 winners?
On 31st May 2025, the AIFF announced Churchill Brothers as the I-League 2024-25 champions after its Appeal Committee ruled against Inter Kashi in a matter related to the fielding of an 'ineligible player'. Inter Kashi finished as the runners-up after getting two points deducted.
However, Inter Kashi filed an appeal against AIFF's decision on 4 June 2025. On 18th July 2025, the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) asked the AIFF to reverse its decision of awarding the 2024-25 season title to Churchill Brothers.
Inter Kashi thus now have won the I-League in their second season in Indian Football.
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Clubs promoted to ISL from I-League
| Season | Champions |
|---|---|
| 2022–23 | RoundGlass Punjab |
| 2023–24 | Mohammedan |
| 2024–25 | Inter Kashi |
I-League winners since 2007-08
| Season | Champions | Runners-up | Third Place | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–08 | Dempo | Churchill Brothers | JCT | 10 |
| 2008–09 | Churchill Brothers | Mohun Bagan | Sporting Goa | 12 |
| 2009–10 | Dempo (2) | Churchill Brothers | Pune | 14 |
| 2010–11 | Salgaocar | East Bengal | Dempo | 14 |
| 2011–12 | Dempo (3) | East Bengal | Churchill Brothers | 14 |
| 2012–13 | Churchill Brothers (2) | Pune | East Bengal | 14 |
| 2013–14 | Bengaluru | East Bengal | Salgaocar | 13 |
| 2014–15 | Mohun Bagan | Bengaluru | Royal Wahingdoh | 11 |
| 2015–16 | Bengaluru (2) | Mohun Bagan | East Bengal | 9 |
| 2016–17 | Aizawl | Mohun Bagan | East Bengal | 10 |
| 2017–18 | Minerva Punjab | NEROCA | Mohun Bagan | 10 |
| 2018–19 | Chennai City | East Bengal | Real Kashmir | 11 |
| 2019–20 | Mohun Bagan (2) | Not Awarded | – | 11 |
| 2020–21 | Gokulam Kerala | Churchill Brothers | TRAU | 11 |
| 2021–22 | Gokulam Kerala (2) | Mohammedan | Sreenidi Deccan | 13 |
| 2022–23 | RoundGlass Punjab | Sreenidi Deccan | Gokulam Kerala | 12 |
| 2023–24 | Mohammedan | Sreenidi Deccan | Gokulam Kerala | 13 |
| 2024–25 | Inter Kashi | Churchill Brothers | Real Kashmir | 12 |
![East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan: Head to Head Stats [UPDATED]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpub-fc6b0668ad0242ec8180d92255407043.r2.dev%2Fsportzpoint%2F1779083597619-east-bengal-vs-mohun-bagan.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
