Breaking! FIFA lifts ban on All India Football Federation

Indian Football Team (Image source- Twitter)

FIFA, the world's football governing body, on Friday lifted its suspension on the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The move implies that India can return to international football and could remain the hosts of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in October this year.

FIFA banned the Indian football federation last week for “undue interference by a third party". This suspension was the first in its history of 85 years. This meant that India could not host the U-17 Women’s World Cup.

A letter from FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura to AIFF’s acting general secretary Sunando Dhar stated, “The Bureau of the Council decided on 25 August 2022 to lift the suspension of the AIFF with immediate effect.”

The suspension that lasted 11 days was lifted as the Supreme Court terminated the mandate of the Committee of Administrators (CoA).

"The decision was taken after Fifa received confirmation that the mandate of the committee of administrators (CoA), that was set up by the Supreme Court 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,” the governing body for world football said in a statement.

The constitution of AIFF will now need to be amended in line with the requirements of FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Also, the Indian federation will need to conduct the upcoming electoral process as per the statutory requirement, which includes voting rights given only to the state associations.

FIFA also informed that it and the AFC will continue to monitor the situation and will support the AIFF in conducting its elections in a timely manner.

"As foreseen in the decision of the Bureau of 14 August 2022, a further communication to the AIFF will follow shortly with respect to the next steps to be taken towards holding elections. Fifa and the AFC will continue to monitor the situation and will support the AIFF in organising the elections in a timely manner,” the Fifa secretary general said.

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur termed the lifting of the ban as a victory for the game. "A victory for all football fans!" Thakur tweeted.

The AIFF elections will be conducted on September 2 with the legendary footballer Bhaichung Bhutia and former goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey set to have a straight fight for the post of president.