The world governing body of football, has banned AIFF with immediate effect for the first time since its inception in 1937. As such, the women’s U17 World Cup will not be held in India until the ban is lifted, and no Indian team will be able to compete in international competitions or friendlies until the ban is lifted.
The ban eliminates ATK Mohun Bagan’s opportunity to compete in the inter-zonal semi-finals of the AFC Cup, an Asian inter-country competition, in September. Gokulam Kerala will also not be able to represent India at the Asian women’s club championships next week. It also means that India’s upcoming friendlies against Singapore and Vietnam have been cancelled.
FIFA has stated that the ban will remain in effect until AIFF regains full control of its affairs. However, domestic football can continue with the 131st Durand Cup, which kicks off the Indian season, starts on August 16 in Kolkata.
The suspension letter, signed by FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura, was delivered to Sunando Dhar, AIFF acting general secretary, on Tuesday morning, just hours after India celebrated its 75th anniversary as an independent country.
Samoura’s letter, as reported by Hindustan Times, refers to the Supreme Court’s order on May 18 that resulted in the appointment of a committee of administrators (CoA) to oversee AIFF, as well as the top court’s decision to hold elections for office-bearers for three months while the constitution is being finalised. It notes that the AIFF’s electoral college has been modified to accommodate former internationals.
The suspension letter also makes reference to an earlier correspondence between Samoura and Windsor John, the general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation, in which they discussed deviations from the roadmap agreed upon during a visit to New Delhi in June, as well as the possibility of suspension.
According to Samoura’s letter, the information was passed on to the FIFA Council, the world body’s main decision-making body. The council decided to suspend India on August 14.
“The Bureau further specified that the relevant suspension would mean that the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022™ scheduled to take place in India on 11-30 October 2022 could not be held in India as planned and that the resulting next steps will continue to be assessed and referred to the Bureau… if and when necessary,”
the letter states.
“As a consequence, and in accordance with article 13 of the FIFA Statutes, AIFF loses all its membership rights as of 14 August 2022 until further notice. AIFF representatives and club teams are therefore no longer entitled to take part in international competitions until the suspension is lifted.”
Neither AIFF nor its members can avail of any FIFA benefit or training till the ban is lifted. The ban will remain in effect until the CoA’s mandate is “fully repealed”; the AIFF administration is “fully in charge” of managing the federation’s daily affairs.
The constitution is in accordance with FIFA and AFC statutes and is approved by AIFF’s general body without interference from “any third party,” and elections are held based on AIFF’s “pre-existing” membership status.
The Supreme Court will hear the case on August 17. The court ordered elections to an interim body on August 3 and stated that the AIFF’s general body should have equal representation of former internationals. The order also stated that the CoA would remain after the interim body is elected and until the constitution is finalised.
