Indian football players and lovers were delivered a massive blow as the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has banned the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The international football body cited "flagrant violations of the FIFA Statutes" as the reason behind the ban.
This news is doubly sad for women footballers in India as FIFA suspended India for "undue influence from third parties" and said the U-17 Women's World Cup "cannot currently be held in India as planned."
In a statement FIFA said, "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”.
The Bureau of the FIFA Council mentioned that the suspension will be lifted only after the repealing of the Committee of Administrators' (CoA) mandate in full. FIFA also mentioned that it wants the AIFF administration to "be fully in charge of the AIFF's daily affairs".
The FIFA statement further read, "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."
The central government has asked for an urgent hearing of the AIFF issue in the Indian Supreme Court. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centretold a bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and A S Bopanna that "important development" has taken place and FIFA has sent a letter suspending India which is in public domain and needs to be brought on record.
The news came after a four-member FIFA delegation met with senior sports ministry officials and the CoA on Friday and Monday, respectively.
