As a result of FIFA’s suspension of the Indian football federation, the country is unable to host the under-17 Women’s World Cup in October.
After a unanimous vote, FIFA’s council decided to suspend the All India Football Federation “due to undue influence from third parties, which represents a major violation of the FIFA rules,” the organization said.
According to FIFA regulations, federations cannot be subject to any kind of legal or political intrusion.
After former chief Praful Patel continued in office beyond his mandate without fresh elections, which courts ruled unlawful, the AIFF is in shambles and is currently being managed by administrators.
New elections will take place on August 28, and polling began last week after the Supreme Court of India approved an electoral schedule drafted by the administration.
The U-17 tournament was scheduled to take place in India from October 11-30, but FIFA announced on Monday that it “cannot now be staged in India as planned” due to the suspension.
FIFA has stated that it is “in constant constructive touch with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in India and is hopeful that a favourable solution may yet be achieved.”
Similarly, the Indian men’s and women’s national teams are banned from participating in any junior or senior international matches.
Bhaichung Bhutia, who was previously the men’s captain, thought the ban was excessive.
“At the same time I think it’s a terrific opportunity to get our system correct,” he said to an Indian sports news outlet, Sportstar.
And it’s crucial that all the relevant parties, like the federations, state associations, and the sport ministry, work together to improve the sport as a whole.
In light of the scenario being beyond their control, India captain Sunil Chhetri recently urged his team to “not pay too much heed” to the FIFA ban threat.
When the AIFF administration regains complete control of the AIFF’s daily activities and an order to set up a committee of administrators to assume the responsibilities of the AIFF Executive Committee is rescinded, FIFA will lift the suspension.
