Indian Football in Jeopardy: FIFA Rebukes AIFF Over Governance Issues

27 August-Kolkata, India: Indian football is looking for another ban as FIFA has delivered a severely worded letter to the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) for failing to implement a new constitution, putting Indian football once again in danger. The rift between the AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey and FIFA have allowed FIFA to remind AIFF of their duty to conduct their business freely, free from outside intervention or pressure from the government. 

In 2022, FIFA banned AIFF after the Supreme Court appointed a three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) to govern the federation after it removed former president Praful Patel. With the ongoing Indian Super League(ISL) crisis at home and the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualification in question, they are once again in danger of facing a ban.

FIFA threatens AIFF with a ban

According to a source, both FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) addressed a letter to AIFF informing them of the most recent threat of a ban. AFC’s main member association officer, Elkhan Mammadov, and deputy general secretary, Vahid Kardany, signed the joint letter.

The FIFA letter has given the AIFF until October 30th to obtain a final Supreme Court ruling on the amended constitution, which must comply with the requirements of the FIFA and AFC Statutes and regulations. At its subsequent general body meeting, AIFF must also approve the constitution.

The FIFA letter to the AIFF stated that “Failure to meet this schedule will leave us with no alternative but to refer the matter to the relevant FIFA decision-making body for consideration and decision.”

FIFA also further added that if AIFF failed to get deliver any verdict about their recent ongoing issue after October 30, it “may result in sanctions outlined in the FIFA and AFC Statutes, including the possibility of suspension.”

The letter added that “AIFF must regard this communication as binding and requiring immediate compliance in order to safeguard its rights as a member of FIFA and AFC.”

Supreme Court is ready with the ‘verdict’

If the authorities suspend the AIFF, the Indian national football team will not only lose its privileges as a fellow FIFA and AFC member, but it will also be unable to participate in other FIFA events and the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifications.

Since 2017, the Supreme Court has been examining the lawsuit about the amended AIFF constitution. The Supreme Court, on August 22, ruled that although the ruling in the AIFF case is “ready,” it is being postponed because the constitution must be updated to align with the National Sports Governance Bill 2025.