History
In May 2023, the All India Football Federation, the governing body of football in India, announced they would accept bids for new clubs to join 2023–24 I-League season onwards. [13] On 29 June 2023, it was announced that agreement for the Varanasi franchise had been reached between Kolkata-based RDB Group of Companies and European clubs Atlético Madrid and Inter Escaldes. [14] [15] FC Andorra has an association with Inter Escaldes, but does not have any direct role with Inter Kashi. The moniker of "Inter" was added because of the tie up with Inter Escaldes. [16]
The club also announced creation of the Atlético de Bharat Academy for the development of grassroots football in the state. [17] Spaniard Carlos Santamarina was chosen as the first head coach of the club, while Javier Broch and Arata Izumi were roped in as assistant coach. [18] English footballer Peter Hartley was the first player signed by the club. [19]
On 28 October 2023, Inter Kashi played their first ever official match against Gokulam Kerala in the I-League. Edmund Lalrindika scored the club's first goal, and Mohammed Asif Khan scored the equalizer to earn the maiden point in a 2–2 draw. [20] Their first win came against Namdhari on 6 November 2023. [21] On 21 November, Inter Kashi played their first I-League home match against Mohammedan in the Ekana Football Stadium in Lucknow. [22] In October 2024, Inter Kashi's two players Sachu Siby and Harmanpreet Singh joined Primera Divisió outfit Inter Club d'Escaldes but Sachu Siby was not able to pursue it because of visa restrictions. [23]
The second season for them remains controversial and is also their first season playing out of Uttar Pradesh after their previous home venue Ekana Football Stadium was declared unfit to play and they had to shift to Kalyani Stadium in Nadia. [24] [25] On 22nd November 2024, they played their first match on their new home ground which also remained the league opener match against SC Bengaluru. [26] Inter Kashi proposed to shift their home stadium from Kalyani Stadium, Nadia to Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati till their new stadium in Varanasi get build. [27]
Controversy
The second season of Inter Kashi remained controversial while having remarks from various members of Indian football and allegations by Delhi FC's recent owner Ranjit Bajaj who also owns Minerva Academy. [28] Inter Kashi appealed against Namdhari FC of playing an ineligible player in match no. 45 for which AIFF Disciplinary Committee awarded 3 points to Inter Kashi and voided the match as win for them which was later stayed by the order of AIFF Appeal Committee and the result of the order will be declared on 28th of April. [29] [30] While the owner of Churchill Brothers, previous owner and father of the 2024-25 CEO of the team, Valanka Alemao (also the Chairperson of AIFF), [31] Churchill Alemao also accused Inter Kashi among the controversial row. [32] While Inter Kashi has also raised serious concerns regarding disparity and clarity from All India Football Federation. [33] [34] They raised concerns regarding rules and mismanagement that happened towards them for the season decider match of round 21, between Churchill Brothers and Inter Kashi which they make allegations against Churchill Brothers for not letting them practice on the ground at which match will happen as given in AIFF rule book. [35] This match remained so controversial that AIFF had to invite referees to officiate the match from Nepal. [36] The match also saw eight yellows and one red and a controversial goal which was argued to be a handball but was given by the referees. [37] [38] [39] Inter Kashi's coach Antonio Habas said it as a new low in Indian football. Namdhari FC also appealed against Inter Kashi for fielding an extra foreigner in I-League which was related to Mario Barco. [40] The end of this controversy from All India Football Federation (AIFF) ended with Churchill Brothers be declared as winners and Inter Kashi as runners-up. [12] Inter Kashi went to CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) on 27th April 2025 against the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Appeals Committee's decision to award the I-League title to Churchill Brothers. This decision was made after the AIFF Appeals Committee reversed an earlier decision that awarded the title to Inter Kashi. CAS has now issued an order staying the AIFF Appeals Committee's decision and preventing AIFF from declaring a winner or holding a medal ceremony until the CAS arbitration is concluded. [41] But AIFF concluded the ceremony disregarding CAS's decision and awarded the trophy and medals to Churchill's players and also without the presence of State Football Association in the ceremony. [42] This action drew criticism from the Goa Football Association (GFA) and raised questions about the AIFF's credibility and its relationship with state associations. [43] The AIFF later acknowledged the CAS stay order and asked Churchill Brothers to return the trophy. [44] The CAS case is ongoing, and the final outcome of the 2024-25 I-League season remains uncertain. [45] The AIFF's decision was overturned by the CAS ruling on 18 July 2025 which crowned Inter Kashi the champions of the season's I-League. [46]
Atlético de Bharat Academy
The club announced the opening of Atlético de Bharat Residential Academy in Sant Atulanand Convent School with the partnership of Dr. Vandana Singh - Director of Sant Atulanand Convent School for U13, U15 and U17 batch in Varanasi on 25th March 2025. [54] The club has already hosted a Futsal tournament Futsal For All Day on 27 August 2024 with partnership of Sant Atulanand Convent School, Uttar Pradesh Football Sangh and All India Football Federation in their academy location with 21 teams competing across 5 categories. [55] [56] The club also hosted Inter Kashi Purnima Masik Pratiyogita 2024 in the same venue on 17 September 2024 as a tournament where 120 children from two different NGOs that are Meera Foundation and Sewa Samarpan Sansthan participated. [57]
The club with the opening announcement also announced Pan-India trials for their academy happening in 10 states and 1 union territory. [58] The home state, Uttar Pradesh witnessed trials in 11 cities. The club announced partnership with different clubs and venue partners for different trials in different cities. [59]
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