OFFICIAL: FIFA suspends All India Football Federation (AIFF) because of ‘third party influence’

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. This is the first time the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has been banned by FIFA in its 85 year history. The suspension also means that the Under-17 women’s World Cup, which was scheduled to take place in India from Oct. 11-30, cannot be held in the country as planned.

“The suspension will be lifted once an order to set up a committee of administrators to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee has been repealed and the AIFF administration regains full control of the AIFF’s daily affairs,” FIFA said in Monday’s statement.

FIFA bans AIFF

The decision was made by the Bureau of the Council, and will remain in place until the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators has been replaced with an AIFF Executive Committee. Fifa has said that it is in constant touch with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and hoped that a positive outcome can be reached.

The Supreme Court of India had disbanded AIFF in May and had appointed a three-member committee to govern the sport, amend the AIFF’s constitution and conduct elections that have been pending for 18 months. FIFA and AFC too had sent a team of their own, led by AFC general secretary Windsor John, to meet the stakeholders of the Indian football and work on a blueprint for AIFF to amend its statutes by end of July and end with elections by September 15.

The ban means that the Indian national teams cannot play international matches. India’s domestic competitions will also lose their Fifa and Asian Football Confederation recognition. This has jeopardised Indian Women’s League champions Gokulam Kerala’s participation in the AFC Women’s Club Championship. The Kerala club has flown to Uzbekistan to play their West Region matches against Sogdiyona Jizzak and Bam Khatoon.

The suspension has subsequently threatened India hosting the Under-17 Women’s World Cup which is slated to begin from October 11 onwards. They revealed that they are assessing the next steps with regard to the tournament. The suspension will be lifted once an order to set up a committee of administrators to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee has been repealed and the AIFF administration regains full control of the AIFF’s daily affairs.

According to FIFA statutes, member federations must be free from legal and political interference in their respective countries. FIFA has previously suspended other national associations over similar cases. FIFA is also assessing the next steps with regard to the tournament and will refer the matter to the Bureau of the Council if and when necessary.