FIFA suspends the All India Football Federation due to ‘third-party interference.’ The ban also means that the Under-17 Women’s World Cup, which was scheduled to take place in India from October 11 to 30, would be canceled.
FIFA has immediately suspended the All India Football Federation (AIFF) owing to “undue interference from third parties.” The AIFF was disbanded by the Supreme Court of India in May, and a three-member committee was created to rule the sport, modify the AIFF’s constitution, and hold elections that had been delayed for 18 months.
In response, FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation sent a team led by AFC general secretary Windsor John to meet Indian football stakeholders and laid down a roadmap for the AIFF to amend its statutes by the end of July and subsequently conclude elections at the latest by Sept. 15.
“The suspension will be lifted if an order to establish a committee of administrators to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee is revoked and the AIFF administration regains full control of the AIFF’s daily business,” FIFA stated in a statement released on Monday.
Earlier this month, the Indian court ordered elections to be held promptly and said the elected committee would be an interim body for a period of three months.
The AIFF elections, which were previously led by FIFA Council member Praful Patel, were scheduled for December 2020 but were postponed due to a stalemate over constitutional reforms.
“FIFA is in constant constructive contact with India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and remains optimistic that a favourable outcome to the case can yet be achieved,” FIFA added.
FIFA laws require member federations to be free of legal and political intervention in their individual countries.
Other national associations have previously been suspended by FIFA for similar reasons.
