AIFF Accuses Executive of Pressure in ISL Team Selection Row

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-03-31

Let's talk about what's really going on in Indian football right now. It's messy, it's personal, and it's raising some serious questions about how the game is run. On March 30, 2026, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) dropped a bombshell. They publicly accused one of their own Executive Committee members, Valanka Alemao, of using heavy-handed pressure tactics. The goal? To force her family's club, Churchill Brothers FC, into the top-tier Indian Super League (ISL). The federation's statement didn't mince words. It claimed Alemao and her family tried to bypass the official rulebook entirely. They reportedly used what the AIFF called "exceptional means" to influence the decision. This wasn't just a one-off complaint. It points to a deeper, ongoing power struggle within the sport's governing body. ### How This Whole Controversy Started So, where did this all begin? It boils down to a classic sports dispute: who deserves the promotion? Churchill Brothers believed they had won the 2024–25 I-League season and earned their spot in the ISL. But a dispute over points sent the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). That's when everything changed. The CAS ruling didn't go their way. Instead, it awarded both the championship *and* the coveted ISL promotion spot to Inter Kashi. That legal decision slammed the door shut for Churchill Brothers under the existing regulations. The AIFF's hands were tied—they had to follow the court's ruling. But the story gets more complicated. The AIFF also has to answer to a higher authority: the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). For the 2025–26 season, they'd already locked in a 14-team format for the ISL, and the AFC had given its official blessing. Throwing an extra team into the mix would've broken those agreements. It was a no-go from the start.  ### A Timeline of Alleged Pressure The AIFF didn't just make a vague accusation. They laid out a detailed timeline, claiming the pressure campaign was sustained and intense. According to them, it ran from January 8 right through to February 15, 2026. Alemao is said to have pushed her club's agenda repeatedly in official meetings. Things escalated when she demanded emergency meetings. One was scheduled for February 9, but it fell apart because not enough committee members showed up. Undeterred, Alemao allegedly started calling members individually to line up a second try. A full meeting finally happened on February 12. The result? The Executive Committee rejected Churchill Brothers' participation. But here's the kicker—the AIFF says the pressure didn't stop there. It allegedly continued even on the very first day of the new ISL season.  ### Legal Fights and a Boycott Threat This isn't just a war of words in boardrooms. It's moved to the courts. Members of the Alemao family filed multiple petitions with the Delhi High Court, challenging the AIFF's rulings. And the federation claims the club resorted to threats, too. Specifically, they say Churchill Brothers threatened to boycott the prestigious Super Cup if they weren't handed an ISL spot. That's a big deal—it's using one competition as leverage for another. The AIFF, for its part, says it's standing firm. Every decision, they insist, follows their own rulebook and established procedures. ### The Other Side of the Story While the AIFF focused on pressure tactics, Valanka Alemao fired back with her own serious accusations. She turned the spotlight on the federation's leadership. In a formal letter, she accused AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, Vice President N.A. Haris, and Deputy Secretary General M. Satyanarayan of outright harassment. She claims they "heckled and harassed" her during a meeting in New Delhi on March 29, 2026. Alemao described their behavior as "disgusting," alleging the president used an intimidating tone and made disrespectful remarks to try and silence her. It's a classic "he said, she said" situation, but with much higher stakes. So, what's the real cost here? Beyond the legal fees and the bad press, this ongoing feud chips away at the credibility of the league itself. Fans are left wondering if decisions are made on the field or in backroom deals. It's a story about power, family legacy in sports, and the constant tension between ambition and the rulebook. And honestly, it doesn't look like it's going away anytime soon.