The Supreme Court on August 22 handed back the management of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) from a court-appointed committee of administrators (CoA) to AIFF’s administration led by an acting secretary general.
- The order on August 22 is meant to help the government’s efforts to revoke FIFA’s suspension of the AIFF. The world body had de-recognised the AIFF citing “third-party interference”.
- Dissolving the CoA, the apex court reverted to the old election process, granting voting rights only to the 36 representatives of member associations representing the states and Union territories for electing the new 23-member executive council (EC) of AIFF.
- A Bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said it was modifying its orders while bearing in mind the “unquestioned importance” of having India host the Under-17 Women’s World Cup in October 2022.
FIFA ban on AIFF
- The All India Football Federation (AIFF) was banned by FIFA (International Football Federation) on August 15, 2022, relieving India of its hosting rights for the U17 Women’s World Cup scheduled in October 2022.
- FIFA, the governing body of world football, banned the AIFF citing ‘third party’ intervention.
- The ban, though temporary, will not only affect the U17 WWC but any FIFA competition India organises or is a part of, be it the Indian Super League (ISL), the I-League (domestic) or the AFC Asian Cup next year (international).
- The ban is a first in AIFF’s 85-year-old rich history and FIFA has said the transgression constitutes a serious violation of its statutes.
- The specter of a FIFA ban had been hanging over AIFF since 18 May when the Supreme Court forced out Praful Patel as AIFF president for not holding elections due in December 2020 and appointed a three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA), headed by former top court judge AR Dave, to manage the organisation’s affairs.
- As per FIFA Statutes, member federations should not be subject to legal and political interference in their respective countries.
- On 3 August, SC passed an interim order for AIFF to hold its election as soon as possible with the results being declared by 28 or 29 August. It also approved forming an electoral college made up of 36 representatives of state football associations and 36 eminent former football players.
- On 6 August, FIFA threatened to suspend the AIFF due to a third-party “influence”.
- On 15 August, FIFA informed the Indian sports ministry that it is in opposition to individual members’ inclusion in the electoral college for the upcoming AIFF elections.
- On 16 August, FIFA officially suspended AIFF with “immediate effect due to undue influence from third parties, which constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA Statutes.”
- The FIFA suspension will have a wide-ranging impact on Indian football. Apart from losing the hosting rights to the U-17 Women’s World Cup, the national teams will not be able to play in international matches.
- Even Indian clubs will not be allowed to participate in continental tournaments.
- India is not the first country to be subject to a suspension of its Football Federation. Here are 11 other countries which are or were suspended by FIFA in the 21st century: Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Chad, Benin, Kuwait, Indonesia, Guatemala, Nigeria, Iraq, Brunei were also banned at some point of time.
(Source: The Hindu)
