Inter Kashi players threaten boycott

Inter Kashi players threatened on Friday to boycott the club’s final two Indian Super League matches over unpaid wages, according to a report by The Times of India. The Varanasi club’s players said salary delays had left the team in what the newspaper described as a “full-blown crisis.” The threat came days after coach Antonio Lopez Habas moved to leave the club and weeks after he publicly raised concerns about salaries for players and staff. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) Inter Kashi, who entered the ISL after winning the I-League last season, drew 0-0 with Mohun Bagan Super Giant on May 12 and are listed 10th in the standings with 12 points from 11 matches. ### How much money do the players say is overdue? The Times of India reported on May 15 that an Inter Kashi player, speaking anonymously, said the squad had received salary for only one of the past four months. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) The same player told the newspaper that staff payments were also pending. The player told the newspaper the team would not travel to New Delhi if the dues were not cleared before Saturday, and would also boycott the final match against East Bengal. Reuters could not independently verify the amount owed or whether any payment was made on Friday. ### What had Antonio Habas said before this latest threat? Antonio Lopez Habas said after Inter Kashi’s 0-3 loss to Punjab FC on April 20 that the club was in a “very, very complicated situation with a lot of problems.” He added that “it’s possible that the players and staff will not receive their salaries.” (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) Sportstar reported on May 11 that Habas was set to leave Inter Kashi after nearly two seasons at the club. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) In a social media message cited by the publication, Habas wrote that “trust is built through keeping commitments, and unfortunately, when those commitments are not fulfilled, trust is lost.” ### Did the club deny money problems earlier? The Times of India reported on April 23 that an Inter Kashi insider had denied financial issues at the club after Habas first raised the matter publicly. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) The same report said another agent told the outlet they had no information on the issue. That April report also said club sources suggested Habas could have been referring to Inter Kashi’s legal dispute with Churchill Brothers over last season’s I-League title and promotion pathway. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) The club was later promoted to the ISL after a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling, according to the report. ### Where does Inter Kashi stand in the league now? The Indian Super League standings page lists Inter Kashi in 10th place with 12 points from 11 matches. (sportstar.thehindu.com) The official league site also reported that Inter Kashi held Mohun Bagan to a 0-0 draw on May 12. The Times of India said the threatened boycott covers Inter Kashi’s remaining two matches of the season. Those fixtures are against Sporting Club Delhi in New Delhi and East Bengal, the newspaper reported. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) ### What happens next this weekend? The players told The Times of India they wanted the club to clear pending dues before Saturday. The newspaper said Inter Kashi were scheduled to travel to New Delhi for the match against Sporting Club Delhi before closing the season against East Bengal. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) The Indian Super League standings page lists East Bengal’s next match on Sunday, May 17, against Mohun Bagan Super Giant, while league schedule listings show the season’s final round falls in mid-May. (indiansuperleague.com) Any change to Inter Kashi’s remaining fixtures would depend on whether the club resolves the wage dispute before the weekend. That last point is an inference based on the players’ threat reported by The Times of India. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)