FIFA, the international football’s governing body, suspended the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on August 16, claiming ‘third party’ meddling.
The ban jeopardizes the country’s chances of hosting the U-17 Women’s World Cup later this year, which was scheduled to take place from October 11 to October 30.
Third-party interference
Simply put, FIFA views the involvement of the court-appointed committee of administrators in the administration of Indian football to constitute third-party interference.
Having an equal number of renowned players and state association members in the electoral college is “not a good proposition,” according to FIFA. The electoral college will include representatives from 36 state organizations as well as 36 notable football players from throughout India – 24 male and 12 female – according to the draught constitution submitted to the Supreme Court by the CoA. The world organization is satisfied with having 25% of former players as Co-opted members on the executive committee.
Furthermore, the deadline for submitting names for the role of AIFF president is Wednesday.
Timeline
May 18, 2022
The Supreme Court of India relieves Praful Patel and his executive committee of their duties and appoints a Committee of Administrators (CoA) to oversee the AIFF’s operations, as well as design the body’s constitution.
Patel would have finished his three terms and 12 years as AIFF president in December 2020, the maximum allowed to a national sports organization chairman under the Sports Code, but elections could not be held due to unresolved issues in the Supreme Court over its constitution.
May 29, 2022
CoA member, Dr. S. Y. Qureshi, says a new AIFF constitution will be in place by the end of September.
June 11, 2022
The CoA and members of various affiliated units meet to discuss how to proceed with holding AIFF elections as soon as possible under a revised constitution that adheres to the national sports code, FIFA, and AFC Statutes.
June 21, 2022
The first round of talks between the visiting FIFA-AFC team and the CoA “goes off well”.
It establishes a 12-member advisory group to monitor the day-to-day operations of the AIFF’s many divisions. The advisory committee will deliver frequent reports to all CoA members for their information and, if necessary, approval.
June 23, 2022
After three days of discussions, FIFA departs with the certainty that the new constitution would be completed by July 31 and the election process will be completed by the end of September.
July 6, 2022
The CoA meets with the seven-member committee representing the AIFF’s State Associations to debate and provide comments on the proposed constitution.
July 16, 2022
The final draft constitution of the AIFF, framed by the CoA, is submitted to the Supreme Court for its approval.
July 18, 2022
The state units of the AIFF express unhappiness with several provisions in the final draft constitution. Still, they say they are ready to “find a middle ground” to avoid a FIFA ban.
The state associations, represented by a seven-member panel, had written to FIFA, claiming that numerous articles in the CoA’s final draught constitution were discriminatory and irrational.
July 21, 2022
The Supreme Court considers the CoA for AIFF and State Associations’ petitions on discrepancies in the proposed constitution and orders all parties to make objections, if any, by July 25.
The next hearing is scheduled on July 28 to examine the proposed constitution and approve it on the same day, paving the path for elections for the national football authority.
July 26, 2022
FIFA recommended AIFF to have 25 percent eminent player representation in its Executive Committee as co-opted members instead of the 50 percent stipulated in the draft constitution by CoA.
July 28, 2022
The Supreme Court of India postponed the hearing on AIFF elections till August 3, citing the importance of holding the Women’s Under-17 World Cup.
3 August 2022
The Supreme Court issued an interim judgment for the AIFF to schedule and complete elections for its executive committee as soon as feasible and well in advance of the Women’s Under-17 World Cup, which will be held in India in October 2022.
A Bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud agrees to a 27-day time election timetable proposed by the CoA, which controls the operations of the AIFF and is represented by prominent counsel Gopal Sankaranarayanan.
The Supreme Court directed the holding of elections to the executive committee of the AIFF by forming an Electoral College made up of 36 representatives of state football associations and 36 eminent former football players.
August 6, 2022
FIFA threatens to suspend the AIFF and strip off its rights to host the Women’s U-17 World Cup in October due to a third-party “influence.”
August 7, 2022
The CoA reassures FIFA after the threat that it is on course to set the AIFF in order while slamming its ousted president Praful Patel for his references to the suspension of the national body.
August 10, 2022
The CoA petitions the Supreme Court for contempt of court action against the body’s former president, Praful Patel, and several state football association office bearers for “interfering with the administration of justice,” accusing them of attempting to defeat the purpose of the Supreme Court’s oversight of the football federation through the Committee of Administrators.
August 13, 2022
The candidacy of veteran administrators Subrata Dutta and Larsing Ming for the AIFF elections was rejected by the poll’s returning officer, Umesh Sinha.
Both had previously served on the AIFF executive committee for three terms, rendering them unable to run for any position for the following four years, according to the National Sports Code.
August 15, 2022
FIFA informed the Indian sports ministry that it remains firm in its opposition to individual members’ inclusion in the electoral college for the upcoming All India Football Federation (AIFF) elections.
