FIFA’s decision to suspend the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has sent shockwaves through the football world, leaving fans wondering: Why India was banned from football? In a letter to the AIFF, FIFA has outlined the reasons for the decision and provided detailed instructions on what needs to be done to restore its membership. The letter not only explains the legal and organisational aspects involved but also sheds light on the impact of the suspension on Indian football. Let’s find out with Bestsoccertips.com today through the article below!
Why India was banned from football?
Deviations in the roadmap
The three-member Management Committee, comprising Dr SY Quraishi, retired Justice AR Dave, and Bhaskar Ganguly, was responsible for drafting the draft constitution and seeking comments from stakeholders, including FIFA, before submitting it to the Supreme Court.
However, FIFA found several points that did not follow the agreed roadmap, notably the inclusion of 36 famous players in the list of electors, representing 50% of the total 72 voters participating in the AIFF elections. FIFA had recommended limiting the representation of famous players to a maximum of 25% of the total electors.
Third-party intervention
FIFA also pointed out that the AIFF had been ordered by the [Supreme Court] to hold elections before finalizing the new constitution, and had imposed a three-month interim term before the constitution was formally ratified. The electoral delegation in this election is designated to include [former] players, and the Committee of Administration (CoA) will remain in charge during this transition period.
FIFA considers that the above provisions are a serious breach of the organization’s regulations on preventing third-party interference, in particular from political or judicial bodies, within national football.
Discover accurate football prediction strategies that will improve your ability to analyze match results.
How can the suspension be lifted?
According to FIFA, immediate steps to be taken include:
- Remove the CoA’s mandate completely: This would mean that the Supreme Court-appointed body would lose complete control over processes ranging from holding elections to finalising the constitution.
- Handover of the AIFF management to the board: The day-to-day running of the AIFF would be handed over to the board that operated under former president Praful Patel. This group, led by Sunando Dhar, the AIFF’s interim secretary general, would continue to run the organisation if FIFA’s demands are met. This would also mean that the CoA would cease to exist.
- Amend the constitution as requested by FIFA and AFC: The amendment would have to be in line with the National Sports Code and would only need to be approved by the AIFF General Assembly. Previously, the state agencies rejected the draft constitution prepared by the CoA, especially the provision requiring the top-tier tournament to be directly owned and managed by the AIFF. This provision goes against the 2019 agreement between the AFC, AIFF and clubs during the development roadmap meeting.
- Establish an independent election committee: FIFA requires the AIFF elections to be organized by a committee elected by the AIFF General Assembly.
- Conduct elections based on the existing structure: The elections will return to the traditional structure, with only state associations participating in the vote, eliminating the granting of voting rights to “famous players” as decided by the CoA.
What does the suspension mean?
No U17 Women’s World Cup
The tournament was scheduled to be held in Odisha, Goa and Maharashtra in October this year, but India was stripped of hosting rights. It was previously scheduled for 2020 but was postponed and then cancelled due to the pandemic. FIFA now says it will continue to assess the next steps.
National and club teams banned from international competition
Indian national teams, including both men’s and women’s, at senior and junior levels, are barred from participating in any FIFA or AFC tournaments or matches until the suspension is lifted. This affects tournaments such as the 2023 AFC Asian Cup and future World Cup or Asian Cup qualifiers.
For clubs, the ban means they cannot compete in AFC-sponsored competitions, such as the AFC Champions League, AFC Cup and AFC Women’s Club Championship. Gokulam Kerala, whose women’s team is in Uzbekistan for the latter tournament, are currently unable to participate in the latter. According to ESPN, Gokulam Kerala have not received official notification and are continuing to follow their scheduled schedule.
Suspension of FIFA/AFC development and support
The suspension also means that FIFA and AFC will no longer provide training programmes, development courses, or coaching licenses that are accredited by the two organizations. This includes a cut in FIFA funding. With the Indian government having slashed the budget of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) by 85%, the financial impact will be even more severe.
In Summary
Thus, FIFA’s decision to suspend the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has caused shockwaves, leading fans around the world to ask: Why India was banned from football? The main reason is the violation of FIFA’s regulations on third-party interference and deviations in the reform roadmap. This incident not only affected the organization of the U-17 Women’s World Cup but also banned Indian national teams and clubs from international competitions, and disrupted football development programs. To lift the suspension, India must carry out serious reforms as required by FIFA.
See more: Who has more wins against each other Messi or Ronaldo?
