In a "stunning development in Indian football," two-time champions Churchill Brothers were "thrown out of the I-League along with three other teams" for failing to fulfill the All India Football Federation's club licensing criteria, according to the PTI. The AIFF's Club Licensing Committee -- First Instance Body -- "took the decision after its meeting." Two Kolkata clubs -- United SC and Mohammedan Sporting -- and Rangdajied United of Shillong "were the other three teams which failed to clear the licensing criteria." All four clubs "will be out of the I-League for at least a year." All four finished at the bottom four in the 13-team I-League ('13-14) "which ended last month, with Mohammedan Sporting finishing last and Churchill 11th." Licensing "is an annual process where all clubs eligible to compete based on sporting merit need to have a License under the AIFF's Indian Club Licensing system." Last year, "only Pune FC met the requirements with all other clubs being given a once in a lifetime one-year exemption." Churchill "had been one of the top club sides in the country in the last few years." It won the I-League title in '08-09 and '12-13 seasons and it is also "the reigning Federation Cup champions" (PTI, 5/21).
