International Football Federation (FIFA) announced the suspension of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) with immediate effect due to “undue influence from third parties, which constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA Statutes.”
The suspension means that the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022, scheduled to take place in India from October 11-30, cannot currently be held in India as planned.
“The Bureau of the FIFA Council has unanimously decided to suspend the All India Football Federation (AIFF) with immediate effect due to undue influence from third parties, which constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA Statutes,” world’s football governing body said in a release late on Monday.
“The suspension will be lifted once an order to set up a committee of administrators to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee has been repealed and the AIFF administration regains full control of the AIFF’s daily affairs.
“The suspension means that the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022, scheduled to take place in India on 11-30 October 2022, cannot currently be held in India as planned. FIFA is assessing the next steps with regard to the tournament and will refer the matter to the Bureau of the Council if and when necessary.
“FIFA is in constant constructive contact with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in India and is hopeful that a positive outcome to the case may still be achieved.”
On May 18, the Supreme Court removed former Union Minister Praful Patel and his committee from the All India Football Federation administration and appointed a three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) headed by a former top court judge AR Dave and also directed adoption of AIFF constitution in line with the National Sports Code and model guidelines.
On August 3, the Supreme Court directed the Committee of Administrators (CoA) to conduct the elections to the executive committee of the AIFF expeditiously as per the timelines proposed by CoA and consistent with the manner prescribed in Article 26 of the draft Constitution of the AIFF.
The elections of the AIFF, formerly led by FIFA Council member Praful Patel, were to be held by December 2020 but were delayed due to an impasse over amendments to its constitution.
