Zurich: World football governing body FIFA lifted Friday the ban imposed on the All India Football Federation (AIFF) after the Supreme Court terminated the mandate of the Committee of Administrators (CoA), clearing the decks for India to host the Women’s U-17 World Cup in October. FIFA had suspended the AIFF August 15 for ‘undue influence from third parties’ and had said the U-17 Women’s World Cup ‘cannot currently be held in India as planned’.
The suspension, the first time in AIFF’s 85-year history, lasted just 11 days after the Supreme Court dissolved Monday the three-member CoA, constituted by it in May, while modifying its earlier orders to ensure that India hosts the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup from October 11-30.
Incidentally the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar will host all the India matches in the group stages.
“The Bureau of the FIFA Council has decided to lift the suspension that was imposed on the All India Football Federation (AIFF) due to undue third-party influence,” FIFA said in a statement.
“The decision was taken after FIFA received confirmation that the mandate of the committee of administrators that was set up to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee had been terminated and that the AIFF administration had regained full control of the AIFF’s daily affairs. As a consequence, the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022 scheduled to take place on 11-30 October 2022 will be held in India as planned,” FIFA added.
FIFA said it and the AFC will continue to monitor the situation and will support the AIFF in conducting its elections in a timely manner.
AIFF’s acting general secretary Sunando Dhar had Tuesday requested FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura to ‘reconsider their decision of suspending the AIFF’.
“It is with immense pleasure that we inform you that the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India took up our matter and vide order dated 22.08.2022 was pleased to pass directions regarding the full repeal of the CoA mandate and consequently the AIFF having full charge of the AIFF’s daily affairs,” Dhar wrote in the letter.
“In view of the above, we request the FIFA and especially the Bureau to reconsider their decision of suspending the AlFF. Since the conditions set out in your Letter for lifting of the suspension stand satisfied, we request that a order to that effect be passed at the earliest for the AIFF to continue with the smooth running of football in India,” the letter further stated.
The CoA, headed by former Supreme Court judge AR Dave, had been overseeing the affairs of the AIFF since the May 18 order of the top court, which ousted Praful Patel as the president of the federation. The other two members of the CoA were former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi and ex-Indian football team captain Bhaskar Ganguly.
“The day-to-day management of AIFF shall be exclusively looked after by the AIFF administration led by the Acting Secretary General. The mandate of the Committee of Administrators appointed by the order of this Court stands terminated,” the SC said in its verdict Monday.
The top court also postponed the August 28 elections of the AIFF by one week to allow a changed electoral college and the start of the nomination process.
The order came on a fresh plea filed by the Sports Ministry seeking modification of the May 18 and August 3 orders of the court after consultation with the FIFA.
The AIFF elections will now be held September 2 with the legendary Bhaichung Bhutia and former goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey set to have a straight fight for the post of president.
