Panaji: Inter Kashi FC have been handed another transfer registration ban, their fifth in less than five months, but despite being stopped from registering new players two days before a new season of the Indian Super League (ISL) kicks off, the club’s participation is not in doubt.




Inter Kashi have been reeling under a registration ban since May 13. At different stages, there were a total of four bans from FIFA, the last one on Oct 1. Earlier this week, the club cleared dues to former players, got the ban lifted, and registered 22 players in just a couple of hours.




Two players, including a former India striker, were left to be registered but there was another roadblock in less than 48 hours as FIFA communicated its decision to the club and All India Football Federation (AIFF) late on Wednesday.




“Inter Kashi has not yet complied with its financial obligations towards Lluis Tarres Campos,” Americo Espallargas, FIFA’s head of disciplinary, wrote in an email. “In this regard, we wish to inform the parties that a ban from registering new players internationally and nationally has been implemented by FIFA on Inter Kashi. The registration ban will remain active until the amount due is paid and for a maximum duration of up to three entire and consecutive registration periods”.




The latest ban will have no bearing on Inter Kashi’s participation in ISL, with their opener against Kerala Blasters FC scheduled for Sunday.




“Inter Kashi have registered 22 players for the season and will play with an all-Indian squad until the next transfer window (in January),” a source who has tracked the developments at the club told TOI.




The club will play their home games at the Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune.




The former I-League champions will be managed by Portuguese coach Carlos Vaz Pinto , who has had two spells at Sreenidi Deccan, taking them to successive I-League runners-up finishes in 2022-23 and 2023-24.




The top tier league will not have relegation this season due to Diamond Harbour’s failure to pay the participation fees. The Indian Football League (IFL) champions will finish at the bottom of the table and get relegated to the second tier.




Inter Kashi have renewed contracts of six players from last season and roped in a majority of their new signings from Jamshedpur FC . The known faces among the new arrivals include India goalkeeper Albino Gomes, Pratik Chaudhari (both Jamshedpur), Hitesh Sharma (Odisha FC), Jitendra Singh (Chennaiyin) and Ayush Chhikara (Mumbai City).