FIFA Suspends All India Football Federation

By: Gyang Dakwo

Global football body FIFA announced on Monday that it has suspended the All India Football Federation (AIFF) with immediate effect.

The decision was “due to undue influence from third parties,” constituting a serious violation of the FIFA statutes, the organization’s governing body said.

The AIFF is in a state of chaos and being run by Administrators after long-serving former chief Praful Patel stayed in office beyond the maximum term of 12 years without fresh elections, which courts ruled invalid.

India’s highest court disbanded the AIFF in May and appointed a three-member committee to govern the sport, amend the AIFF’s constitution, and conduct elections that have been pending for 18 months.

The suspension means that the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022, scheduled to take place in India on 11-30 October, cannot be held in the country as planned.

FIFA said it is assessing the next steps with regard to the tournament and is in constant contact with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in India with the hope that a positive outcome could still be achieved.

The ruling will also mean that Indian men’s and women’s national teams cannot play junior or senior international games for now.